Board of Immigration Appeals overturns earlier ruling blocking removal of prominent Columbia University protester.
The United States has revived its efforts to deport Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian student and leading voice in pro-Palestinian campus activism, in a move widely viewed by advocates as part of a broader crackdown on dissent against Israel’s war on Gaza.
According to a court filing from his legal team, the U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) has reinstated deportation proceedings against Mahdawi, overturning a February 2026 decision by an immigration judge that had terminated the case.
Mahdawi, a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) who grew up in a refugee camp in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, was detained by masked ICE agents in April 2025 while attending what he believed was a routine naturalisation interview in Vermont. He spent nearly two weeks in custody before being released on bail.
‘Using immigration laws to suppress dissenting voices’:
Mahdawi and his supporters have described the case as political retaliation for his leadership of peaceful protests at Columbia University against the Gaza war. He co-founded the university’s Palestinian Student Union and was a prominent organiser during the 2023-2024 student encampments.
In a statement, Mahdawi accused the government of “weaponising the immigration system to silence dissent”.
The Trump administration has justified targeting certain pro-Palestinian activists by claiming their activities harm U.S. foreign policy. A memo reportedly signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio was central to the original deportation effort, though an immigration judge initially ruled it could not be properly authenticated.
That judge, Nina Froes, was reportedly fired last month. The BIA’s decision now sends the case back to immigration court under a different judge.
From refugee camp to Ivy League activism:
Mahdawi arrived in the United States more than a decade ago. He studied at Lehigh University before transferring to Columbia, where he pursued philosophy and later a master’s degree focused on international diplomacy and conflict resolution. A practising Buddhist, he also served as president of Columbia’s Buddhist Association.
His activism intensified after October 2023. Mahdawi helped lead demonstrations calling for ceasefire and Palestinian rights, drawing both strong support and sharp criticism from pro-Israel groups, some of whom accused him of antisemitism-allegations he has consistently denied.
Mahdawi Case Sparks Free Speech Debate:
Rights groups and legal observers say Mahdawi’s case fits into a wider pattern under the current administration of using immigration enforcement against student activists critical of Israel. Several other pro-Palestinian students and academics have faced similar scrutiny, visa revocations, or deportation threats since 2025.
Mahdawi’s legal team is continuing to challenge aspects of his detention and the proceedings in federal court.
As the case proceeds, free speech advocates and Palestinian solidarity groups have rallied in support, framing it as a test of whether the U.S. will uphold First Amendment protections for non-citizens engaging in political expression.