In a bold move demonstrating the Trump administration’s unwavering commitment to national security, immigration officials arrested Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi during his citizenship interview on Monday.
Mahdawi, a vocal supporter of Hamas and organizer of anti-Israel protests, was detained under a rarely used provision of immigration law that allows the removal of aliens who pose “serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.” This decisive action sends a clear message: America will not tolerate those who align themselves with terrorist organizations or engage in hate-fueled activism.
Video footage shows Mahdawi being led away in handcuffs by plainclothes officers, flashing a defiant double peace sign—a gesture that underscores his allegiance to a movement that celebrated the brutal October 7 Hamas massacre of Israeli civilians.
His lawyer, Luna Droubi, has filed a temporary restraining order, but the facts remain: Mahdawi co-founded Columbia’s Palestinian Student Union, spearheaded anti-Israel protests, and has a documented history of harassing individuals based on their faith. While liberal media outlets like NBC News frame this as an overreach, the reality is that Mahdawi’s actions make him a prime candidate for deportation under existing U.S. law.
The arrest comes just days after an immigration judge in Louisiana ruled that another Columbia student, Mahmoud Khalil, could be deported—though a left-leaning federal judge in New Jersey temporarily blocked his removal. The contrast is stark: while the Trump administration enforces the law, activist judges and Democratic politicians work to shield those who threaten America’s security and values.
Unsurprisingly, Senator Bernie Sanders (Socialist-VT) and Congresswoman Becca Balint (D-VT) rushed to Mahdawi’s defense, issuing a joint statement decrying his arrest. “Earlier today, Mohsen Mahdawi of White River Junction, Vermont, walked into an immigration office for what was supposed to be the final step in his citizenship process,” they whined. “Instead, he was arrested and removed in handcuffs by plainclothes, armed, individuals with their faces covered. These individuals refused to provide any information about where he was being taken or what would happen to him.”
🚨 LMAO! The leader of Columbia University’s Anti-Israel riots, Mohsen Madawi, was ARRESTED by ICE during his US citizenship interview 🤣
THAT’S HOW IT’S DONE!
He’s now slated to be deported back to Palestine.
Nice work @Sec_Noem! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/msIcUBy1cB
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) April 15, 2025
Their outrage is misplaced. Since when do U.S. immigration officers owe explanations to individuals suspected of supporting foreign terrorist groups? The left’s reflexive sympathy for radicals like Mahdawi exposes their dangerous priorities—putting the rights of anti-American agitators above the safety of the nation.
President Trump has consistently championed strict immigration enforcement, and this case is no exception. By detaining Mahdawi, his administration is upholding the rule of law and ensuring that those who seek to exploit America’s freedoms to promote violence and bigotry face consequences.