ICE arrests Palestinian Columbia student at citizenship interview

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders says a Palestinian immigrant was on the verge of gaining permanent

citizenship, but instead immigration officials arrested him in Vermont this week. Sanders, along with two other U.S. lawmakers, released a statement describing the incident

saying on April 14th, Mohsen Madawi was arrested and removed in handcuffs by plainclothes

armed individuals with their faces covered. These individuals refused to provide any information as

to where he was being taken or what would happen to him. Madawi is a student at Columbia University

and a green card holder, according to court documents. He's used social media and the campus

itself as a platform to speak out against the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas

while also sharing his personal connection to Palestine and his political stance on the crisis

Madawi is the co-founder of the Palestinian Student Union at Columbia, a group he started

with another student, Mahmoud Khalil, who has since been detained by ICE

Madawi is being held at an immigration facility in Vermont. Since his arrest his lawyers have filed a petition challenging the legality of his detention asking a judge to decide if he can legally be held there The documents suggest Madawi is being targeted by the Trump administration in retaliation for exercising his right to free speech

saying he advocated for ceasefire and ending the bloodshed in Gaza. But a policy unveiled in March gives Secretary of State Marco Rubio the ability to punish

non-citizens for their speech and expressive conduct related to Palestine and Israel

In a statement to the news outlet Intercept, Madawi's lawyer says he came to this country hoping to be free to speak out about the atrocities he has witnessed, only to be punished for such speech

Similar to his classmate Khalil, Madawi's lawyer believes Trump officials are trying to use Section 237 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to deport him to Palestine for being a potential threat to the U.S

According to Intercept, Madawi says if he is sent back to Palestine, it would be a death sentence

Madawi has not been officially charged with a crime. A Vermont judge has issued a temporary restraining order to keep him from being moved out of state

For Straight Arrow News, I'm Kaylee Carey. Find more fact-based, unbiased updates on the Straight Arrow News mobile app