{"id":2429215,"date":"2025-04-30T12:20:02","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T16:20:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-orders-release-of-detained-columbia-student-mohsen-mahdawi\/"},"modified":"2025-04-30T12:21:29","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T16:21:29","slug":"judge-orders-release-of-detained-columbia-student-mohsen-mahdawi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-orders-release-of-detained-columbia-student-mohsen-mahdawi\/","title":{"rendered":"Judge orders release of detained Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjudge-orders-release-of-detained-columbia-student-mohsen-mahdawi%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2429215&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sidney-powell-is-an-american-legal-giant\/\" title=\"Sidney Powell Is an American Legal Giant\">federal judge<\/a> has ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, a 34-year-old pro-Palestinian student at Columbia University, after he spent over two weeks in immigration detention following his arrest during a naturalization interview in Vermont. Detained by Department of Homeland Security agents on April 14, Mahdawi&#8217;s case has drawn notable national attention, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-bidens-hhs-loses-track-of-migrant-minors-allegedly-released-into-modern-day-slavery\/\" title=\"Report: Biden&#039;s HHS Loses Track of Migrant Minors Allegedly ...d into Modern-Day Slavery\">highlighting concerns<\/a> over the Trump management&#8217;s actions targeting pro-Palestinian activists. The judge, geoffrey Crawford, emphasized that Mahdawi was charged wiht no crime and acknowledged the significant harm his detention caused. Mahdawi is now released on bail while awaiting the outcome of his case, amid government claims of national security risks linked to his actions and beliefs. His arrest is part of a broader pattern of intensified immigration enforcement against Middle Eastern students involved in protests regarding the situation in Gaza.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Federal judge orders release of detained pro-Palestinian Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tpd-featured-video\">\n<div id=\"Brid_24824\" class=\"brid\" style=\"width:1280;height:720;\"> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>A federal judge on Wednesday ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/columbia-university\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Columbia University<\/a> student from the West Bank, after Mahdawi spent more than two weeks in immigration detention following his abrupt arrest during a naturalization interview.<\/p>\n<p>The 34-year-old permanent U.S. resident was detained by armed Department of Homeland Security agents on April 14 while seeking U.S. citizenship in Vermont. Mahdawi has been held since then at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans, and his case has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-descend-into-twitter-war-with-amazon\/\" title=\"Democrats Descend into Twitter War With Amazon\">drawn national attention<\/a> over the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trump administration<\/a>&rsquo;s targeting of pro-Palestinian student activists.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3395921\/states-sue-trump-administration-americorps-cuts\/\">States sue Trump administration over AmeriCorps cuts<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3395836\/wisconsin-supreme-court-suspends-milwaukee-judge-hannah-dugan-fbi-arrest\/\">Wisconsin Supreme Court suspends Milwaukee judge arrested by FBI<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3394985\/dc-ag-brian-schwalb-sues-five-maryland-virginia-drivers\/\">DC AG sues five Maryland and Virginia drivers for &#8216;dangerous and illegal conduct&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mohsen Mahdawi, left, and Mahmoud Khalil participate in a pro-Palestinian protest at Columbia University on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo\/Yuki Iwamura)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;The two weeks of detention so far demonstrate great harm to a person who has been charged with no crime,&rdquo; said U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, according to ABC News. &ldquo;Mr. Mahdawi, I will order you released.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Crawford&rsquo;s order allows Mahdawi to be released on bail, pending the final outcome of his case in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/federal-court-is-fast-tracking-sidney-powells-request-for-a-forensic-exam-of-dominion-voting-machines\/\" title=\"Federal Court Is Fast-Tracking Sidney Powell\u2019s Request For A Forensic Exam Of Dominion Voting Machines\">federal court<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">government cited national security concerns<\/a> in seeking to keep him in custody.<\/p>\n<p>Secretary of State Marco Rubio justified the arrest in a DHS notice, stating Mahdawi&rsquo;s &ldquo;presence and activities&rdquo; in the United States would pose &ldquo;serious adverse foreign policy consequences.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors also alleged Mahdawi had expressed support for antisemitic violence and had &ldquo;an interest in and facility with firearms for that purpose,&rdquo; according to sealed government filings seen by NBC.<\/p>\n<p>Originally from the al Fara&rsquo;a refugee camp in the West Bank, Mahdawi immigrated to the U.S. more than a decade ago and began studying at Columbia in 2021.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I am saying it clear and loud to President Trump and his Cabinet: I am not afraid of you,&rdquo; Mahdawi said outside the courtroom after his release, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/news\/us-news\/judge-orders-columbia-student-mohsen-mahdawi-released-rcna203675\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">according<\/a> to NBC News.<\/p>\n<p>The Trump administration has stepped up immigration enforcement actions against Middle Eastern students tied to pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Mahdawi is the second Columbia student in recent weeks to face detention. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3391851\/mahmoud-khalil-arrest-warrant-department-of-homeland-security\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DIDN&rsquo;T HAVE ARREST WARRANT FOR MAHMOUD KHALIL, CITING &lsquo;FLIGHT RISK&rsquo;<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student who led protests against the war in Gaza, was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3391851\/mahmoud-khalil-arrest-warrant-department-of-homeland-security\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">arrested<\/a> at his New York apartment on March 8. A judge ruled on April 11 that Khalil can be deported, though he remains in custody while appealing the decision.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>contacted the Justice Department and DHS for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_24824\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"playlist\":\"24824\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Federal judge orders release of detained Columbia student Mahdawi<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2429216,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/AP25105096369164.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[54352,51414,41649,54351,39443],"class_list":["post-2429215","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-columbiauniversity","tag-highereducation","tag-legalnews","tag-mohsenmahdawi","tag-studentrights"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/AP25105096369164.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2429215","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2429215"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2429215\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2429219,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2429215\/revisions\/2429219"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2429216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2429215"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2429215"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2429215"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}