This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy0332y7xzo
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Mohsen Mahdawi: Palestinian student activist arrested at US citizenship interview | Mohsen Mahdawi: Palestinian student activist arrested at US citizenship interview |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Watch: Moment Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi arrested by ICE | |
| An organiser of pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University has been arrested by immigration officials as he attended an interview as part of his application for US citizenship, his lawyer says. | An organiser of pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University has been arrested by immigration officials as he attended an interview as part of his application for US citizenship, his lawyer says. |
| Mohsen Mahdawi, a green card holder who is due to graduate next month from the New York City college, was detained on Monday in Colchester, Vermont. | Mohsen Mahdawi, a green card holder who is due to graduate next month from the New York City college, was detained on Monday in Colchester, Vermont. |
| His lawyer said Mr Mahdawi was taken into custody "in direct retaliation" for his role in campus demonstrations against the Israel-Gaza war. | His lawyer said Mr Mahdawi was taken into custody "in direct retaliation" for his role in campus demonstrations against the Israel-Gaza war. |
| Others who took part in campus protests against the war, including Columbia University's Mahmoud Khalil and Tufts University's Rumeysa Ozturk, have been detained. | Others who took part in campus protests against the war, including Columbia University's Mahmoud Khalil and Tufts University's Rumeysa Ozturk, have been detained. |
| The BBC has contacted US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for more details on Mr Mahdawi's case. | The BBC has contacted US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for more details on Mr Mahdawi's case. |
| Video shared on social media apparently shows him being escorted into a car by two officers wearing police jackets. | Video shared on social media apparently shows him being escorted into a car by two officers wearing police jackets. |
| His lawyer, Luna Droubi, said: "The Trump administration detained Mohsen Mahdawi in direct retaliation for his advocacy on behalf of Palestinians and because of his identity as a Palestinian. | His lawyer, Luna Droubi, said: "The Trump administration detained Mohsen Mahdawi in direct retaliation for his advocacy on behalf of Palestinians and because of his identity as a Palestinian. |
| "His detention is an attempt to silence those who speak out against the atrocities in Gaza. It is also unconstitutional." | "His detention is an attempt to silence those who speak out against the atrocities in Gaza. It is also unconstitutional." |
| The attorney applied to a federal court for a temporary restraining order to prevent US immigration authorities moving Mr Mahdawi out of Vermont or expelling him from the US. | The attorney applied to a federal court for a temporary restraining order to prevent US immigration authorities moving Mr Mahdawi out of Vermont or expelling him from the US. |
| Judge William Sessions, an Obama appointee, quickly granted that order. | Judge William Sessions, an Obama appointee, quickly granted that order. |
| The court filing says Mr Mahdawi was born in a refugee camp in the West Bank and moved to the US in 2014. | The court filing says Mr Mahdawi was born in a refugee camp in the West Bank and moved to the US in 2014. |
| It describes the philosophy major as a committed Buddhist who believes in "non-violence and empathy as a central tenet of his religion". | It describes the philosophy major as a committed Buddhist who believes in "non-violence and empathy as a central tenet of his religion". |
| The whereabouts of Mr Mahdawi, who has held US permanent resident status since 2015, are unknown, according to Ms Droubi. | The whereabouts of Mr Mahdawi, who has held US permanent resident status since 2015, are unknown, according to Ms Droubi. |
| Mr Mahdawi participated in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University | |
| Mr Mahdawi, who co-founded Columbia's Palestinian Student Society, has been an outspoken critic of Israel's military operation in Gaza. | Mr Mahdawi, who co-founded Columbia's Palestinian Student Society, has been an outspoken critic of Israel's military operation in Gaza. |
| Last December, he did an interview with CBS' 60 Minutes programme in which he accused Israel of genocide, which it denies. | Last December, he did an interview with CBS' 60 Minutes programme in which he accused Israel of genocide, which it denies. |
| Mr Mahdawi's detention comes amid an immigration crackdown by President Donald Trump's administration. | Mr Mahdawi's detention comes amid an immigration crackdown by President Donald Trump's administration. |
| Last month, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at least 300 foreign students' visas had been revoked in an effort to tackle antisemitism on university campuses. | Last month, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at least 300 foreign students' visas had been revoked in an effort to tackle antisemitism on university campuses. |
| Critics say US officials are falsely accusing students of anti-Jewish bigotry and violating their right to free speech. | Critics say US officials are falsely accusing students of anti-Jewish bigotry and violating their right to free speech. |
| Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders said on X that Mr Mahdawi "was illegally detained by ICE during what was supposed to be the final step in his citizenship process". | Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders said on X that Mr Mahdawi "was illegally detained by ICE during what was supposed to be the final step in his citizenship process". |
| The senator said he "must be afforded due process under the law and immediately released from detention". | The senator said he "must be afforded due process under the law and immediately released from detention". |
| Judge Sessions also held a hearing on Monday in the case of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish student at Boston's Tufts University, who was arrested by immigration authorities last month. | Judge Sessions also held a hearing on Monday in the case of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish student at Boston's Tufts University, who was arrested by immigration authorities last month. |
| He questioned whether the Trump administration would provoke a "constitutional crisis" by not releasing the student from custody if the court were to order that she be moved from detention in Louisiana back to Vermont. | He questioned whether the Trump administration would provoke a "constitutional crisis" by not releasing the student from custody if the court were to order that she be moved from detention in Louisiana back to Vermont. |
| Meanwhile, lawyers for Mahmoud Khalil are currently challenging an immigration judge's ruling on Friday allowing the government to deport him as a national security risk. | Meanwhile, lawyers for Mahmoud Khalil are currently challenging an immigration judge's ruling on Friday allowing the government to deport him as a national security risk. |
| The Columbia University protest leader was detained last month outside his campus accommodation and transferred to a Louisiana detention centre. | The Columbia University protest leader was detained last month outside his campus accommodation and transferred to a Louisiana detention centre. |
| Watch: Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk arrested by immigration agents |