A federal judge ruled Wednesday that Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian activist and Columbia University student, can attend his college graduation amid the Trump administration’s efforts to deport him. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Mahdawi, who was recently released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention, will be allowed to go to Columbia\u2019s commencement on May 21.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Mahdawi is permitted to travel to New York State on or about May 15, 2025, returning\u00a0to Vermont on or about May 25, 2025, in order to attend his graduation ceremony at Columbia University and related events,\u201d Judge Geoffrey Crawford wrote. \u00a0<\/p>\n
A green-card holder targeted over his on-campus activism, Mahdawi was arrested during his naturalization hearing in April, with the federal government attempting to deport him under a provision that says the secretary of State can target international individuals who threatened the foreign policy of the United States. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Prosecutors argued against him being allowed to attend his graduation.<\/p>\n
Mahdawi has used his freedom to speak out against the Trump administration and Columbia\u2019s actions against pro-Palestinian protesters. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cUnlike other students who continue to languish in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, I\u2019ve been afforded the \u2018privilege\u2019 to seek justice while not in prison,\u201d he said after becoming the first high-profile activist to be released following the Trump administration\u2019s crackdown on foreign students. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite spending 16 nights in a jail cell, I never lost hope in the inevitability of justice and the principles of democracy,\u201d Mahdawi added. \u201cI wanted to become a citizen of this country because I believe in the principles that it enshrines.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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