Full Breakdown
Appeals Court Vacates Release Order for Pro-Palestinian Columbia Activist
7/22/2026, 2:06:27 AM
Core Event: Appeals Court Overturns Release Order
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that a Vermont federal district judge had exceeded his authority by ordering the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian-born lawful permanent resident and Columbia University graduate-student activist. The panel held that Mahdawi’s claims must be litigated first in the immigration-court system, which is overseen by the Department of Justice, and therefore the district court lacked subject-matter jurisdiction. The decision does not command Mahdawi’s immediate re-arrest but removes the prior order that allowed him to remain free while his deportation case proceeds.
Background & Context
Mahdawi’s arrest in April 2025 occurred during a U.S. citizenship interview in Vermont. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained him after Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated Mahdawi’s “presence or activities” as potentially causing “serious adverse foreign-policy consequences” for the United States. The Trump administration has pursued a broader campaign to deport non-citizen students who criticize Israel, threatening university funding and scrutinizing online speech. In 2025, U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford (appointed by President Barack Obama) ordered Mahdawi’s release on bond, finding that non-citizens enjoy First Amendment protections comparable to those of citizens. The appeals court’s reversal reinstates the administration’s ability to keep Mahdawi in removal proceedings.
Data & Statistics
- Age and status: Mahdawi, 35, is a lawful permanent resident who entered the United States in 2015.
- Arrest details: Detained for roughly two weeks (16 days) after immigration agents handcuffed him at his naturalization interview.
- Legal timeline: A district-court release order in 2025; the Board of Immigration Appeals reinstated deportation proceedings in May 2025; the Second Circuit decision issued in July 2026.
- Related case: A similar jurisdictional ruling was issued in January 2026 by the Third Circuit in the case of Mahmoud Khalil, another Columbia-affiliated Palestinian activist.
Official Statements & Responses
- The American Civil Liberties Union, representing Mahdawi, warned that the ruling “creates a grave setback” and leaves Mahdawi without a remedy to prevent possible re-detention while the immigration process continues.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I still have faith that the full court will correct the legal error and restore the constitutional principles that protect all people equally.” — Mohsen Mahdawi, columbia university activist
- “Today’s decision is a grave setback, although I am confident justice will ultimately prevail,” — Mohsen Mahdawi, columbia university activist
What’s Next
Mahdawi may seek review by the full Second Circuit or appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, where a final removal order to Jordan has already been issued. The appeals panel’s opinion does not mandate his re-arrest, but the immigration authorities retain the ability to detain him pending the outcome of those higher-court reviews.
