Key facts
- An immigration judge ordered a Columbia protest leader deported.
- The leader co-founded the Palestinian Student Union and has lived in the U.S. for over a decade with a green card.
- The Board of Immigration Appeals reinstated removal proceedings against him.
- A habeas corpus petition related to First Amendment rights is pending, preventing immediate deportation.
An immigration judge has ordered the deportation of a Columbia University protest leader, identified as Mahdawi, who co-founded the Palestinian Student Union. Mahdawi has resided in the U.S. for over a decade and holds a green card. His case gained national attention after he was detained by immigration authorities during a naturalization appointment, amid a crackdown on pro-Palestinian student activism. The administration argues his activism undermined U.S. foreign policy, while his supporters assert it is a matter of free speech. The Board of Immigration Appeals reinstated removal proceedings against him, and after Mahdawi indicated he would not seek asylum, the judge ordered his removal on June 3. However, a pending habeas corpus petition filed on First Amendment grounds prevents his immediate deportation.