The Trump administration has justified its decision to deport Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi, a green-card holder, citing concerns that his activities could potentially undermine the Middle East peace process. In a memo from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, it was alleged that Mahdawi, who led pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia, had jeopardized efforts to peacefully resolve conflicts in Israel and Gaza.

Mahdawi was taken into custody at an immigration services center in Vermont while preparing for his citizenship process. Rubio’s memo invoked the same legal authority used to detain another Columbia protester, Mahmoud Khalil, arguing that Mahdawi’s activism posed a threat to the US goal of combating antisemitism.

The memo specifically accused Mahdawi of engaging in threatening rhetoric and intimidation of pro-Israeli individuals, claiming that his actions had undermined efforts to protect Jewish students from violence and reinforced antisemitic sentiments. Mahdawi, who hails from a refugee camp in the West Bank and became a US lawful permanent resident in 2015, was set to graduate from Columbia in May and had been admitted to a master’s program at the university’s School of International and Public Affairs.

Despite the seriousness of the allegations, the State Department declined to comment on the case, and Mahdawi’s legal representatives have yet to respond to inquiries. While Mahdawi’s lawyers acknowledge his past activism, they note that he has not been involved in organizing protests since March 2024. The situation remains complex, with legal challenges looming over the administration’s justification for Mahdawi’s arrest and potential deportation.