Appeals Court Reverses Release of Pro-Palestinian Activist Mohsen Mahdawi, Allowing Deportation Efforts to Continue
A federal appeals court in New York has overturned a previous decision that ordered the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, a pro-Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate. The court's ruling allows the Trump administration to continue its efforts to deport Mahdawi, who was arrested during a citizenship interview in April 2025. The appeals court found that the lower court judge had overstepped by intervening before the immigration process was complete. Mahdawi, who was born in a refugee camp in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, has been a legal permanent resident of the U.S. since 2015. His arrest was part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to expel noncitizens critical of Israel. The American Civil Liberties Union, representing Mahdawi, argues that the government cannot detain or deport him while the appeals process is ongoing. 
