On Monday, April 14th, GS student and activist Mohsen Mahdawi was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a naturalization appointment in Vermont.

On the afternoon of April 14th, Mohsen Mahdawi (GS ‘25) was detained by ICE at a naturalization appointment. Mahdawi arrived in Vermont for his appointment when he was taken to a detention center in Colchester, VT. A Vermont judge denied his deportation for the time being, stating that he should not be removed from the United States. 

Mahdawi was born and raised in a refugee camp in the West Bank, moving to the United States 10 years ago. He has since held a green card, making him a lawful permanent resident. Mahdawi was an active member of the encampment, leading protests and being a prominent public-facing figure. 

Reports say Mahdawi was said to have shown up to his naturalization appointment, only to be arrested by officers in plain clothes and promptly detained. His family, along with lawyers, have been given no information or updates about the situation. 

The video of Mahdawi’s arrest, posted on X, shows him being escorted into a car by masked officers with police jackets as he holds up two peace signs. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Rep. Becca Balint (Vt.-AL) released a statement on Mahdawi’s arrest, calling it “immoral, inhumane, and illegal.” 

This is a developing story. Bwog will provide updates as new information is released.

Header via Bwog Archive