A Columbia protest leader was taken into custody at a citizenship interview, his lawyers say, as the Trump administration pushes to deport fellow Columbia activist Mahoud Khalil.
Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian man involved in protests at Columbia University, was taken into custody by federal agents Monday when he arrived at a citizenship interview in Vermont, his attorneys said in court filings.
Mahdawi’s detention comes as the Trump administration fights to deport fellow Columbia activist Mahmoud Khalil.
Mahdawi’s legal team — which filed a petition asking for his release, claiming his detention violated the First Amendment — said they believe the Trump administration plans to remove Mahdawi from the country under an obscure law allowing deportations if the Secretary of State decides someone poses an « adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States. » The administration cited the same provision to detain Khalil.
« The Trump administration detained Mohsen Mahdawi in direct retaliation for his advocacy on behalf of Palestinians and because of his identity as a Palestinian », his attorney, Luna Droubi, alleged in a statement. « His detention is an attempt to silence those who speak out against the atrocities in Gaza. It is also unconstitutional. »
CBS News has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
Mahdawi’s attorney Luna Droubi — who filed a petition asking for his release — said in a statement Mahdawi’s legal team has « not received confirmation as to his whereabouts despite numerous attempts to locate him.
