Columbia activist detained during citizenship appointment

A federal judge on Monday blocked the deportation of a detained Columbia University protest organizer who is a legal U.S. resident, court records show.The big picture: Mohsen Mahdawi, a green card holder from Palestine, was arrested by immigration officials upon arriving to what he believed was a citizenship interview, his attorneys said. He has not been charged with a crime.Driving the news: Hours after his arrest, Mahdawi's attorneys requested a temporary restraining order to prevent his transfer.U.S. District Judge William Sessions did so, blocking his out of Vermont as well as his deportation, per the court order.Representatives for the DHS and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment in the evening.Catch up quick: Mahdawi was arrested and detained by Department of Homeland Security agents on Monday, despite being a lawful permanent resident, his attorneys said in the petition filed the same day. The lawyers demanded his immediate release and said his detention violates First Amendment, statutory and due process rights."Mahdawi was an outspoken critic of Israel's military campaign in Gaza and an activist and organizer in student protests on Columbia's campus until March of 2024, after which he took a step back and has not been involved in organizing," the petition states.Zoom out: Mahdawi's lawyers argued the Trump administration is seeking his removal based on the same provision with which it detained Columbia University alumnus Mahmoud Khalil.A judge ruled last week that Khalil can be deported despite his status as a legal U.S. resident.That decision marked a win for the Trump administration in its historic test of immigrants' speech rights.Context: Mahdawi is a Palestinian who was born and raised in a refugee camp in the West Bank, his attorneys said, adding that he has been a lawful permanent resident in the U.S. for 10 years. Mahdawi is expected to graduated from Columbia University in May and has also been admitted to a Master's program there, per the filing.Go deeper: Mahmoud Khalil can be deported, judge rules

A federal judge on Monday blocked the deportation of a detained Columbia University protest organizer who is a legal U.S. resident, court records show.

The big picture: Mohsen Mahdawi, a green card holder from Palestine, was arrested by immigration officials upon arriving to what he believed was a citizenship interview, his attorneys said. He has not been charged with a crime.Driving the news: Hours after his arrest, Mahdawi's attorneys requested a temporary restraining order to prevent his transfer.

U.S. District Judge William Sessions did so, blocking his out of Vermont as well as his deportation, per the court order.

Representatives for the DHS and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment in the evening.

Catch up quick: Mahdawi was arrested and detained by Department of Homeland Security agents on Monday, despite being a lawful permanent resident, his attorneys said in the petition filed the same day. The lawyers demanded his immediate release and said his detention violates First Amendment, statutory and due process rights."Mahdawi was an outspoken critic of Israel's military campaign in Gaza and an activist and organizer in student protests on Columbia's campus until March of 2024, after which he took a step back and has not been involved in organizing," the petition states.

Zoom out: Mahdawi's lawyers argued the Trump administration is seeking his removal based on the same provision with which it detained Columbia University alumnus Mahmoud Khalil.A judge ruled last week that Khalil can be deported despite his status as a legal U.S.

resident.That decision marked a win for the Trump administration in its historic test of immigrants' speech rights.Context: Mahdawi is a Palestinian who was born and raised in a refugee camp in the West Bank, his attorneys said, adding that he has been a lawful permanent resident in the U.

S. for 10 years. Mahdawi is expected to graduated from Columbia University in May and has also been admitted to a Master's program there, per the filing.

Go deeper: Mahmoud Khalil can be deported, judge rules.