Judge orders release of detained pro-Palestinian student activist

A federal judge in Vermont ordered Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi to be released on bail Wednesday, just over two weeks after Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested the student activist. Mahdawi met a crowd of supporters outside the courthouse after his release and insisted that he did not fear President Donald Trump or his administration. Authorities arrested the green card-holding student during a naturalization interview over alleged security concerns. Mahdawi was a top pro-Palestinian leader on campus who helped organize on-campus protests last year.

Why did the judge let him go if he was arrested for security concerns? U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford noted during the Wednesday hearing that Mahdawi had yet to be charged with a crime despite spending more than two weeks in custody. Crawford denied a request from the government to pause Mahdawi’s release for another week. Mahdawi described Crawford’s release ruling as brave, adding that it gives hope to those who doubt the justice system.

Authorities arrested a number of student activists recently over their participation in pro-Palestinian activities in the United States. Officials arrested Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil in early March for allegedly participating in anti-Semitic protests. ICE agents arrested Massachusetts graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk weeks later for allegedly supporting the terror group Hamas. Cornell graduate student Momodou Taal chose to self-deport late last month after the Trump administration revoked his student visa.

Dig deeper: Read Elizabeth Russell’s report on a judge ruling that Mahmoud Khalil may be deported.