Judge Rejects Trump Administration Effort to Deport Palestinian Activist

Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University student, was arrested after participating in anti-Israel protests.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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A U.S. immigration judge has rejected efforts by the Trump administration to deport Columbia University student and activist Mohsen Mahdawi, who was arrested last year following his participation in anti-Israel protests. The judge ruled that the Department of Homeland Security failed to meet its burden of proving Mahdawi was removable from the country.

Why it matters

This case is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to detain and deport non-citizen students with anti-Israel views who engaged in campus activism. The judge's decision is seen as an important step in upholding the right to free speech and political expression for non-citizen students.

The details

Mahdawi, who was born and raised in a refugee camp in the West Bank, was arrested in April 2025 upon arriving for an interview for his U.S. citizenship petition. His deportation case partly stems from allegations dating back to 2015, when he was interviewed by the FBI after reportedly making antisemitic remarks at a Vermont gun store and a firearms museum. After two weeks in detention, Mahdawi was released by a U.S. District Judge in Vermont.

  • Mahdawi was arrested in April 2025 upon arriving for a U.S. citizenship interview.
  • The immigration judge issued the decision rejecting the deportation effort on February 13, 2026.

The players

Mohsen Mahdawi

A Columbia University student and activist who was arrested after participating in anti-Israel protests.

Nina Froes

The immigration judge who rejected the Trump administration's efforts to deport Mahdawi.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president whose administration sought to deport Mahdawi and other non-citizen students with anti-Israel views.

Marco Rubio

The former U.S. Secretary of State whose unauthenticated document was used by the Department of Homeland Security in its effort to deport Mahdawi.

Geoffrey Crawford

The U.S. District Judge in Vermont who ordered Mahdawi's release after two weeks in detention.

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What they’re saying

“This decision is an important step towards upholding what fear tried to destroy: the right to speak for peace and justice.”

— Mohsen Mahdawi

What’s next

The Department of Homeland Security has the option of challenging the immigration judge's decision before the Board of Immigration Appeals, part of the Department of Justice.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration's efforts to crack down on non-citizen student activists and the courts' role in protecting free speech and political expression for all, regardless of immigration status.