• Federal judge Geoffrey Crawford has ordered Mohsen Mahdawi to remain in Vermont for at least 90 days.
• Mahdawi was arrested during a citizenship interview and is fighting for release through legal channels.
• His detention is believed to be linked to his pro-Palestinian activism at Columbia University.
• Mahdawi's attorneys claim the government has no legitimate basis for his detention.

A federal judge in Vermont has determined that Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian student detained during a citizenship interview, must stay in the state for at least 90 days as his legal team works to secure his release. U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford extended a restraining order preventing Mahdawi's deportation or transfer to another state, thus allowing the ongoing legal proceedings to continue in Vermont. Another hearing has been scheduled for next week, with a separate immigration court appearance set for May 1 in Louisiana, the outcomes of which remain uncertain, according to ABC News, CBS News, and AA.

Mahdawi’s attorneys have argued that his detention lacks a legal foundation, highlighting that it primarily stems from his pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University. They assert that his prior arrest during the citizenship interview amounts to an egregious violation of his First Amendment rights. Legal representatives express concerns that Mahdawi’s detention could "disrupt" his education, emphasizing that there are no credible claims that Mahdawi is a flight risk or a danger to the community, according to ABC News and CBS News.

Critically, Mahdawi is among several Columbia University students reportedly targeted for deportation due to their activism regarding Palestinian issues. The prevailing political climate under the Trump administration has seen an uptick in actions against international students advocating for Palestinian rights. Judge Crawford has voiced concerns about the broader implications of Mahdawi’s case, mentioning that moving him to another state could complicate the judicial process, as noted in remarks captured by ABC News, CBS News, and AA.