Mehdi Unfiltered 'Red Scare': Columbia Student Formerly Detained by ICE Describes 'Chilling Effect' on Campus
Mar 3, 2026
Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia grad student and Palestinian activist who was detained by ICE, gives a firsthand account of immigration detention and its toll. He discusses campus free speech, the chilling effect on protests and scholarship, targeted divestment actions, and efforts to sustain solidarity and resistance despite legal threats.
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Detained At Citizenship Interview After Pledge
- Mohsen Mahdawi was detained by ICE immediately after saying he would take the pledge of allegiance at his citizenship interview.
- He says the detention was a deliberate trap following campus protests and occurred after he answered all application questions honestly.
16 Days In ICE Custody And Nearly Sent To Louisiana
- Mahdawi spent 16 days in ICE custody and was nearly transferred to a harsher facility in Louisiana but missed the flight by ten minutes.
- He describes Vermont detention conditions as inhumane despite being considered relatively better: restricted meal times, poor sleeping conditions, and lack of translators and lawyers.
Judge Blocks Deportation But Appeal Looms
- An immigration judge blocked Mahdawi's deportation, offering partial legal reprieve against what he calls a politicized deportation campaign.
- The government signaled intent to appeal, with a deadline of March 13th, so his legal safety remains contested.