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Appeals Court Overturns Decision to Release Palestinian Rights Activist Mohsen Mahdawi

HeadlineJul 22, 2026

A three-judge federal appeals panel has overturned a lower court’s ruling that ordered the release from ICE custody of Palestinian rights activist Mohsen Mahdawi, in a ruling that could allow the Trump administration to rearrest the Columbia University graduate. In May, the U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals reinstated deportation proceedings against Mahdawi, who is a green card holder. In April of last year, masked and hooded ICE agents detained him when he appeared for what he believed would be a naturalization interview in Vermont. He spent two weeks in ICE custody before a federal judge ordered his release. After his release, he came back to Columbia University and graduated. He’s now a graduate student. Click here to see our interviews with Mohsen Mahdawi.

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