US Immigration Judge Rejects Trump Bid to Deport Colombian Student

A US Immigration Judge Has Ruled Against Deportation Proceedings for Palestinian Student Activist

On February 13, an immigration judge in the United States has ruled against an attempt by the Trump administration to deport Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University student who was arrested last year for his protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza. The decision was made public as part of court filings submitted to a federal appeals court in New York.

Mahdawi, a lawful permanent resident from a Palestinian refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, had been facing deportation proceedings amid a protest crackdown under the Trump administration. He is a member of Columbia University’s activist community and has been involved in pro-Palestinian protests on campus.

According to court filings, Mahdawi was arrested at a meeting set up by the government, allegedly to process his citizenship application, in April 2023. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) stated that ICE detained him “in direct retaliation for his advocacy of Palestinian rights”.

The Trump administration had attempted to transfer Mahdawi out of state to Louisiana, but a court order ultimately blocked it from doing so. Mahdawi was released on April 30 after US Judge Geoffrey Crawford accused the Trump administration of doing “great harm” to someone who had committed no crime.

A federal appeals court in New York has been considering a challenge from the Trump administration against Mahdawi’s release from custody. The immigration judge’s decision was made without prejudice, meaning that the Trump administration could refile its case against Mahdawi.

Mahdawi’s lawyers released a statement thanking the immigration court for its decision and expressing gratitude for upholding free-speech rights.

Source: Al Jazeera