An immigration judge has put a stop to the Trump administration’s attempt to deport Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian graduate student known for orchestrating protests at Columbia University against Israel and the Gaza war.
The decision, disclosed on Tuesday, pointed to procedural errors by government lawyers who failed to properly authenticate crucial evidence. This setback adds to the federal government’s ongoing legal challenges in its campaign against campus activists critical of Israel.
Mahdawi, a longtime legal resident of the United States, was originally detained amid a citizenship interview but was swiftly released. His situation underscores a broader dialogue about free speech and due process within immigration law, as the Department of Homeland Security’s future actions remain uncertain.