US court overturns order releasing pro-Palestinian Columbia activist Mohsen Mahdawi

A US federal appeals panel on Tuesday overturned a lower court's decision that had ordered the release of pro-Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi, opening the door for his potential re-arrest. The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in New York ruled that the Vermont federal judge had overstepped his authority by intervening before Mahdawi's case had fully progressed through the immigration court system. Mahdawi, a permanent resident born in the West Bank, has lived in the US since 2014 and was arrested in April 2025 while petitioning for citizenship. He is currently appealing an order of removal issued against him in immigration court. The ruling did not address the merits of Mahdawi's claim that he was unconstitutionally targeted for criticizing Israel, stating he can pursue federal court review after exhausting immigration court options.