Federal immigration authorities have revived efforts to remove a Columbia University student from the country after he took part in pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus, according to legal documents filed by his attorneys.
The U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals reversed an earlier decision that had halted deportation proceedings against Mohsen Mahdawi, a student who was taken into custody last year following his involvement in campus protests supporting Palestinian causes.
In February, immigration judge Nina Froes from Chelmsford, Massachusetts had dismissed the Trump administration’s attempts to remove Mahdawi from the United States. However, Froes lost her position last month.
The immigration appeals board, operating under the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review, has now overruled Froes’ earlier determination. President Trump has characterized activists such as Mahdawi as promoting antisemitic views, backing extremist causes, and posing risks to American foreign policy interests.
Civil rights advocates and some Jewish organizations argue that federal officials are incorrectly equating legitimate criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and its control over Palestinian areas with antisemitic sentiment, while also treating Palestinian rights advocacy as extremist support.
“The government continues to weaponize the immigration system to silence dissent,” Mahdawi stated in a release distributed by his attorneys on Wednesday.
Mahdawi, who grew up in a refugee settlement in the West Bank under Israeli control, was detained in April 2025 when he appeared for an interview regarding his application for American citizenship. He spent two weeks in custody before a judge ordered his release, and authorities never filed criminal charges against him.
The American Civil Liberties Union, serving as Mahdawi’s legal representation, maintains that immigration officials cannot currently remove him from the country because his detention is being contested through federal court proceedings.
The Trump administration has intensified its response to pro-Palestinian activism by pursuing deportation of foreign demonstrators, threatening funding cuts to universities hosting protests, and examining immigrants’ social media activity. Civil liberties experts have raised concerns about the impact on constitutional rights, legal procedures, and academic independence.
American universities have experienced ongoing campus organizing against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza beginning in late 2023, with demonstration activity reaching its height during 2024. Though the movement’s intensity has decreased, sporadic incidents continue to occur.
During the past weekend, University of Michigan faculty member Derek Peterson expressed support for pro-Palestinian demonstrators during spring graduation ceremonies, leading the institution to issue a public apology.
On Wednesday, Rutgers University announced it had rescinded an invitation to pro-Palestinian business executive Rami Elghandour, known for his criticism of Israeli policies, to deliver a commencement address scheduled for next week.
