Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi, detained during his naturalization interview on April 14, remains hopeful about his situation, expressing confidence that he won’t face deportation. Speaking from the Northwest State Correctional Facility in Vermont, Mahdawi, a 34-year-old permanent resident originally from a refugee camp in the West Bank, emphasized his internal peace despite recognizing the injustice he faces. He attributed his faith in justice to the support from those speaking out against his arrest and his belief in the U.S. democratic system.
Mahdawi’s past includes witnessing violence in his home camp and being shot by an Israeli soldier at age 15. After immigrating over a decade ago, he became an organizer of pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia. He described his concept of freedom evolving after relocating to the U.S., yet now feels that freedom is at risk due to his arrest. He warned that his situation is a concern for all Americans who value liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
During his arrest, Mahdawi was apprehended by armed ICE agents as he believed he was completing the last step to citizenship. His attorneys argue his First Amendment rights were violated by the Trump administration’s actions. Mahdawi also linked his struggles to broader injustices faced by Palestinians, citing the tragic loss of life. He criticized the government’s statements that frame his activism as a risk to U.S. foreign policy, calling it a form of gaslighting.
As he awaits a crucial hearing, Mahdawi reiterated his desire to become an American, invoking the constitutional principle of “We the People” and calling on compassion from the community to support justice.
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