Mohsen Mahdawi Voice Judge Slams Unjust Detention: “No Crime Committed” In a powerful rebuke of federal overreach, a federal judge in Vermont ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi , a Palestinian student at Columbia University and lawful permanent U.S. resident, who had been detained and targeted for deportation despite facing no criminal charges . “For anybody doubting justice,” Mahdawi said upon his release, “this is a light of hope and faith in the justice system in America.” The Arrest That Sparked Outrage Mahdawi was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on April 14 in Colchester, Vermont, during a routine naturalization interview. The arrest drew immediate criticism, with his legal team arguing that his detention was a direct retaliation for his outspoken advocacy for Palestinian rights . He is among a growing number of international students facing detention for pro-Palestinian activism, under a little-known statute being leveraged by the Trump admini...