US immigration judge rejects Trump bid to deport Columbia student Mahdawi

In February 2026, a US immigration judge ruled against the Trump administration's attempt to deport Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University student and Palestinian activist. Mahdawi was arrested in April 2025 for protesting against Israel’s actions in Gaza, part of a broader crackdown on campus demonstrations during Trump's administration. The decision, revealed in court filings, was made "without prejudice," meaning the government could refile the case. Mahdawi, a lawful permanent resident who has lived in Vermont for 10 years, expressed gratitude for the ruling, framing it as a victory for free speech. The case is also connected to the detention of another student protester, Mahmoud Khalil, by ICE in March 2025.

A US immigration judge blocked the deportation of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian activist and Columbia University student, who was arrested during a citizenship interview in Vermont last year. The judge ruled that the evidence submitted by the Trump administration was inadmissible due to a failure to properly authenticate a memorandum. Mahdawi, a green card holder, was detained for speaking out against the "genocide of Palestinians." His lawyers at the ACLU argued that the government failed to substantiate its charges against him. Mahdawi was born in a refugee camp in the West Bank and immigrated to the US over a decade ago.