CBS NEWS
Following the arrest of fellow activist Mahmoud Khalil, Mahdawi expressed fear for his own safety, acknowledging that his detainment might be next.
Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian activist and Columbia University student, was detained by federal immigration agents just one day after expressing concerns about his citizenship interview. “Is this a honey trap?” Mahdawi told CBS News the day before his detainment, fearing a potential trap. The 25-year-old, who has held a green card for a decade, was arrested under a rare law permitting the deportation of foreign nationals if they pose “serious adverse foreign policy consequences.”
Mahdawi’s legal team argues he’s being punished for his activism, alleging violations of First Amendment rights. His involvement in Columbia’s Palestinian Student Union and campus protests against Israel’s war in Gaza drew attention, with critics accusing him of promoting antisemitism—a claim he denies.
“I want people to know that my compassion extended beyond the Palestinian people,” Mahdawi said, as he faced the potential of deportation.