By Mohsen Mahdawi
Mr. Mahdawi is a Palestinian human rights advocate and Columbia University student.
On April 14, 2025, I was detained during what should have been my citizenship naturalization interview. After more than two weeks of unjust imprisonment, a federal judge ruled in favor of releasing me. In a major victory for democracy, I may be the first of the many student activists who have been detained by the Trump administration to be freed from detention.
Detained at his citizenship interview, the Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi speaks of his ordeal.
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