Columbia Student's Dream of Citizenship Derailed by Shock ICE Detention at Naturalization Interview

Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian-born Columbia University student and legal U.S. permanent resident since 2015, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on April 14, 2025, during a routine naturalization interview in Colchester, Vermont. His attorney, Cyrus Mehta, claims the detention was retaliation for Mahdawi's role as co-founder of the Palestinian Student Union at Columbia, alongside Mahmoud Khalil, another Palestinian permanent resident recently detained by ICE. The arrests have raised alarms about targeted crackdowns on student activists.

Mahdawi, who has lived in the U.S. for a decade and is set to graduate next month, had met all requirements for citizenship, making his detention highly unusual, legal experts say. "He was clearly eligible for naturalization," Mehta told reporters, noting that Mahdawi had applied for citizenship last year and was expecting a straightforward interview. Instead, he was taken into custody without any criminal charges, prompting swift legal action.

A federal judge in Vermont issued a temporary halt to Mahdawi's removal from the U.S. or transfer to another state, giving his legal team time to challenge the detention. The case has drawn national attention, with advocates arguing it reflects a broader crackdown on foreign-born students involved in political activism. "This sends a chilling message to students exercising their free speech," said Ramzi Kassem, another attorney representing Mahdawi, in a statement to the press.

The incident follows a similar case involving another Columbia student, Mahmoud Khalil, who faced deportation proceedings amid allegations of national security risks tied to his activism. Both cases have fueled debates about the balance between immigration enforcement and First Amendment rights, particularly on university campuses where protests over the Israel-Gaza conflict have been prominent.

Columbia University has not publicly commented on Mahdawi's detention, but student organizations have rallied in his support, planning demonstrations to demand his release. Social media posts from peers describe Mahdawi as a dedicated student leader who grew up in a West Bank refugee camp before building a life in the U.S. "Mohsen's only crime is speaking out for justice," one classmate posted on X.

As the legal battle unfolds, Mahdawi's case is likely to intensify discussions about the vulnerabilities of international and immigrant students in the U.S., especially those engaged in politically charged causes. For now, his future—and his dream of becoming a U.S. citizen—remains uncertain.