The U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals has reinstated deportation proceedings against pro-Palestinian student Mohsen Mahdawi, according to a court filing cited by his lawyers.
Mahdawi, a student at Columbia University, was arrested in 2025 during pro-Palestinian protests but was not charged with any crime.
Earlier Decision Reversed
An immigration judge had previously stopped the deportation case in February. That ruling was later overturned after the judge was removed, and the appeals board reinstated the proceedings.
Detention and Legal Challenge
Mahdawi, originally from a refugee camp in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, was detained in April 2025 during a U.S. citizenship interview. He was released two weeks later under a court order.
His legal challenge is still ongoing, according to his lawyers and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Oman Introduces Clear Rules for Foreign Workers
Wider Context
The case comes amid ongoing debate in the United States over pro-Palestinian activism on university campuses, with growing disputes over free speech and national security concerns.
