{"id":2633222,"date":"2026-07-21T16:17:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T20:17:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/appeals-court-overturns-lower-court-ruling-releasing-anti-israel-activist\/"},"modified":"2026-07-21T16:26:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T20:26:14","slug":"appeals-court-overturns-lower-court-ruling-releasing-anti-israel-activist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/appeals-court-overturns-lower-court-ruling-releasing-anti-israel-activist\/","title":{"rendered":"Appeals court overturns lower court ruling releasing anti-Israel activist"},"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%2Fappeals-court-overturns-lower-court-ruling-releasing-anti-israel-activist%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=2633222&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 federal appeals court has overturned a lower court ruling that ordered the release of Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi from immigration detention, citing lack of jurisdiction. The three-judge panel in the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stated that Mahdawi\u2019s claims should have been addressed through immigration court procedures first rather than in federal district court. Mahdawi, a Palestinian-born permanent resident and active in anti-Israel protests, was detained by ICE in Vermont last year during an interview related to his U.S. citizenship petition. although a district judge initially ordered his release citing First Amendment protections, the appeals court reversed this decision on jurisdictional grounds. Mahdawi\u2019s case is part of broader litigation concerning the Trump administration\u2019s efforts to deport noncitizens involved in anti-israel activism, with civil liberties groups arguing these policies infringe on free speech rights. Mahdawi, who has not been charged with a crime, has faced scrutiny over statements regarding Hamas and alleged comments about firearms used to harm Jews. The ruling aligns with <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >previous decisions requiring similar cases<\/a> to go through immigration proceedings first. the Justice Department views this as a affirming stance on immigration enforcement procedures.  <\/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<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A federal <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/federal-courts\/\">appeals court<\/a> on Tuesday overturned a lower court\u2019s ruling ordering the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Trump administration<\/a> to release Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi from <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/immigration\/\">immigration<\/a> detention, finding the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-gives-trump-first-win-over-teacher-grants-freeze\/\" title=\"Supreme Court gives Trump first win over teacher grants freeze\">lower court lacked jurisdiction<\/a> to decide his case.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The three-judge panel of the Manhattan-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Mahdawi\u2019s claims should first have been resolved through immigration court proceedings, rather than in federal district court.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/national-security\/4657280\/appeals-court-overturns-ruling-releasing-pro-palestinian-activist-mohsen-mahdawi\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Appeals court overturns lower court ruling releasing pro-Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4656732\/fifth-circuit-will-review-law-barring-felons-possessing-guns-is-federal-overreach\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Fifth Circuit will review if law barring felons from possessing guns is federal overreach<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4656896\/security-clearance-jack-smith-team-members-casa\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Bill Pulte is urged to revoke security clearances for ex-Jack Smith team members<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">FILE \u2013 Mohsen Mahdawi speaks during an interview at the ACLU of Vermont on May 8, 2025, in Montpelier, Vt. (AP Photo\/Alex Driehaus, File)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/AP26202610740675.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mohsen Mahdawi speaks during an interview at the ACLU of Vermont on May 8, 2025, in Montpelier, Vt. (AP Photo\/Alex Driehaus, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe district court granted his motion for release pending review of this habeas petition on the basis that Mahdawi would likely succeed in showing that the government unlawfully targeted him based on First Amendment protected activity,\u201d U.S. Circuit Judge Debra Livingston, a George W. Bush appointee, wrote for the panel in a 41-page opinion. \u201cWe conclude that the district court should not have reached this question because it did not have subject matter jurisdiction over the habeas petition.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mahdawi, 35, was arrested by <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4653698\/ice-melting-under-trump-expectations\/\">Immigration and Customs Enforcement<\/a> in Vermont in April last year when he arrived for an interview connected to his U.S. citizenship petition. The West Bank-born permanent resident had become a prominent figure in anti-<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/israel\/\">Israel<\/a> demonstrations at Columbia University in 2024.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, ordered Mahdawi <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3396293\/federal-judge-orders-release-columbia-pro-palestinian-student-mohsen-mahdawi\/\">released on bond two weeks after his arrest<\/a>, concluding that he was not a flight risk and that noncitizens have <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/first-amendment\/\">First Amendment<\/a> speech protections. The appeals court overturned that ruling on jurisdictional grounds but did not order Mahdawi to be taken back into custody.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The case is part of a broader legal fight over the Trump administration\u2019s effort to remove noncitizens who participated in anti-Israel campus protests. The administration has argued that certain activists\u2019 continued presence in the United States could harm U.S. foreign policy interests, while civil-liberties groups contend the policy punishes constitutionally protected speech.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mahdawi has portrayed himself through his lawyers as a peaceful Buddhist opposed to violence. But his record has drawn scrutiny from groups that track anti-Israel activism. Canary Mission, an organization that compiles profiles of alleged antisemitic activists, has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/canarymission.org\/individual\/Mohsen_Mahdawi\">cited Mahdawi\u2019s statements<\/a> after <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hamas\/\">Hamas<\/a>\u2019s Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel, including his assertion that \u201cHamas is the product of the Israeli occupation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Federal prosecutors also cited allegations involving Mahdawi\u2019s 2015 visit to a Vermont gun store. According to court filings, the store owner told law enforcement that Mahdawi said he had substantial firearms experience and had built modified 9mm submachine guns <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/cis.org\/Fishman\/Deportation-Case-Against-Mohsen-I-Kill-Jews-Mahdawi-Dismissed-Because-Paperwork\">\u201cto kill Jews\u201d<\/a> while in Palestinian territory. The owner said Mahdawi allegedly made similar remarks to another gun enthusiast.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mahdawi has not been charged with a crime.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/4650585\/aoc-palestinian-activist-refugee-camps-hamas-strongholds\/\">AOC PAID PRO-PALESTINIAN ACTIVIST WHO FUNDRAISED FOR REFUGEE CAMPS SUSPECTED OF BEING HAMAS STRONGHOLDS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tuesday\u2019s decision followed a similar ruling earlier this year involving <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4647768\/mahmoud-khalil-sue-trump-heritage-foundation-canary-mission-conspiracy\/\">Mahmoud Khalil<\/a>, another Columbia-affiliated anti-Israel activist who was released from immigration detention after more than 100 days. The Philadelphia-based <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www2.ca3.uscourts.gov\/opinarch\/252162p.pdf\">3rd Circuit concluded<\/a> in January that Khalil\u2019s claims <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4419918\/appeals-court-says-district-judge-overstepped-authority-ruling-in-favor-of-mahmoud-khalil\/\">likewise belonged in the immigration system<\/a> before reaching federal court.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brett Schumate, the assistant attorney general for civil rights at the Justice Department, wrote on X that the decision was a \u201cBig win for the rule of law: The Second Circuit makes clear that habeas can\u2019t be used as an end\u2011run around Congress\u2019s immigration removal-review scheme.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Appeals court blocks Mahdawi&#8217;s release, cites jurisdiction issues<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2633223,"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\/2026\/07\/AP26048842850311.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[10123,4671,39490],"class_list":["post-2633222","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-courts","tag-israel","tag-legal-rulings"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26048842850311.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633222","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=2633222"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633222\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2633230,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633222\/revisions\/2633230"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2633223"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2633222"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2633222"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2633222"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}