Bernie Sanders, Democrats decry arrest of another pro-Palestine Columbia protestor

A federal judge has given the green light for deportation proceedings to move forward against Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student and pro-Palestine activist. Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani appeared on ‘Fox & Friends Weekend’ to discuss the legal ruling and provide an update on the Menendez brothers’ case.

In a crackdown on alleged Hamas sympathizers, another Palestinian-born green card holder, Mohsen Mahdawi, was detained by federal immigration authorities in Vermont. The arrest took place during an immigration interview at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services field office in Colchester, Vermont. The arrest has sparked outrage and condemnation, with Senator Bernie Sanders calling it “immoral” and “illegal”.

Mahdawi, who co-founded the Palestinian Student Union at Columbia, was detained alongside Mahmoud Khalil, another pro-Palestinian activist who was detained earlier this year. The court filing challenging Mahdawi’s arrest claims that he is a lawful permanent resident of the United States and was studying philosophy at Columbia with plans to graduate in May. He was also involved in organizing protests at Columbia until he stepped back from leadership in March.

U.S. District Judge William Sessions ruled that Mahdawi cannot be removed from the U.S. or the state of Vermont pending further court review. The arrest was met with criticism from Vermont’s senators and representative, who called it “immoral, inhumane, and illegal” and demanded Mahdawi’s immediate release.

The Trump administration’s crackdown on alleged Hamas sympathizers on college campuses follows years of pro-Hamas and pro-Palestinian protests disrupting classes across the country. The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have not yet commented on Mahdawi’s arrest.

The joint statement from Vermont lawmakers condemned the arrest and called for Mahdawi to be afforded due process under the law. The situation continues to unfold as the legal battle over deportation proceedings against Mahmoud Khalil moves forward. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.

Peter Pinedo is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.