USA: He Showed Up to Become an American – He Was Led Away in Handcuffs

Mohsen Mahdawi had prepared for one of the most important meetings of his life.

On Monday, he entered the immigration office in Colchester, Vermont, hoping to complete his path to U.S. citizenship. What he didn’t know was that American authorities had entirely different plans.

Shortly after his arrival, Mahdawi – who has held a green card since 2015 – was arrested by officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Instead of answering questions about the U.S. Constitution, he was taken away in handcuffs, without any explanation of where he was being taken or what charges he faced.

A Peace Sign – Then He Was Gone

The young Palestinian arrived in the U.S. in 2014 after growing up in a refugee camp in the West Bank.

Since then, he completed a bachelor’s degree at Columbia University, where he was expected to graduate in May and begin a master’s degree at the same university in the fall.

As a student, Mahdawi has been a prominent voice in the debate about the war in Gaza.

He co-founded the Palestinian student organization at Columbia and organized protests until March 2024. After that, he chose to step back slightly to focus on dialogue – especially with Jewish and Israeli fellow students.

However, his peaceful approach and activism didn’t make him invisible. On Monday morning, his friend Christopher Helali waited outside the office. He managed to film Mahdawi as he was led out of the building. In the footage, Mahdawi is seen raising his hand to form a peace sign before being placed in a black car.

“He was very determined to show up – even though we both knew there was a risk,” Helali said. “He was nervous but resolute. He hadn’t done anything wrong.”

A System That Cracks Down on Dissent

Mahdawi’s attorneys have not been informed of his whereabouts. They have filed a federal request to prevent authorities from deporting him or moving him out of Vermont, calling the case an assault on fundamental rights.

“The Trump administration detained Mohsen Mahdawi in retaliation for his advocacy for Palestinians and because of his identity as a Palestinian,” said attorney Luna Droubi. “His arrest is an attempt to silence those who speak out against the atrocities in Gaza. It’s also unconstitutional.”

The case has attracted widespread attention, not least because Mahdawi met all requirements to become a U.S. citizen.

According to his lawyers, the authorities are using a rarely invoked provision that allows the Secretary of State to expel individuals whose presence is deemed harmful to U.S. foreign policy interests. The same provision was previously used against another Palestinian student, Mahmoud Khalil.

“This Is Inhumane”

Criticism is not limited to activists and lawyers. Vermont’s two senators, Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch, along with Representative Becca Balint, issued a joint statement:

“Earlier today, Mohsen Mahdawi entered an immigration office to take the final step toward U.S. citizenship. Instead, he was arrested by masked and armed individuals in plainclothes. No one would say where he was taken or what would happen to him. This is immoral, inhumane, and illegal. Mr. Mahdawi, a lawful U.S. resident, must be afforded due process and released immediately.”