Federal judge orders release of anti-Israel protester at Columbia

A federal judge has made the decision to release Mohsen Mahdawi, an anti-Israel protester who was involved in organizing riots and protests at the University of Columbia. Mahdawi, a green card holder, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) earlier this month in Vermont.

Upon leaving the courthouse, Mahdawi defiantly declared, “I’m not afraid of you,” in a message directed at President Donald Trump. Court documents revealed that Mahdawi co-founded the Palestinian Student Union at Columbia following the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack. He started the group alongside Mahmoud Khalil, another pro-Palestinian activist who was previously detained by federal immigration officials under the Trump administration.

The arrest of Mahdawi on April 14 prompted strong condemnation from Vermont’s two U.S. senators, Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch, as well as the state’s sole member of Congress, Rep. Becca Balint. They issued a joint statement denouncing the circumstances of Mahdawi’s arrest, alleging that he was taken into custody by armed individuals with covered faces while visiting an immigration office for what he believed was the final step in his citizenship process.

“This is immoral, inhumane, and illegal,” the statement asserted. The officials demanded that Mahdawi, a legal resident of the U.S., be granted due process and released from detention immediately.

As a student at Columbia, Mahdawi was known for his vocal criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and his organization of campus protests until March 2024. Born in a refugee camp in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Mahdawi moved to the U.S. in 2014. He had recently completed coursework at Columbia and was set to graduate in May before pursuing a master’s degree program at the university in the fall.

The release of Mahdawi comes after a judge ruled that his co-founder, Mahmoud Khalil, could be deported. The two activists had played significant roles in advocating for Palestinian rights and protesting against Israeli policies.

This article was written by Anders Hagstrom for Fox News Digital, covering national politics and major breaking news events. For tips or inquiries, contact Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com or follow him on Twitter at @Hagstrom_Anders.