• A U.S. immigration judge has blocked the deportation of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian student at Columbia University.
• The ruling came after the Trump administration's failure to properly authenticate evidence against Mahdawi.
• Mahdawi's case highlights ongoing tensions surrounding pro-Palestinian activism in U.S. universities.
• He previously faced detention during what was supposed to be a citizenship interview.
• Advocates claim government actions aim to suppress free speech related to pro-Palestinian views.

A U.S. immigration judge has ruled against the Trump administration's attempts to deport Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University student and activist, who was detained following pro-Palestinian protests. The ruling, made public on February 13, 2026, issued by Immigration Judge Nina Froes, pointed out procedural errors including the failure of government attorneys to properly certify a crucial document intended for use as evidence. This legal misstep has hindered the administration’s efforts to expel Mahdawi, whose case continues to garner significant attention from human rights advocates, as it reflects accusations against the government’s broader campaign to silence dissenting voices, particularly those criticizing U.S. foreign policy regarding Israel and Palestine, according to Al Jazeera, Reuters, and CBS News.

Mahdawi, a legal permanent resident for the past decade, was arrested during what he believed was a citizenship interview in April 2025. Following his detention, he was released after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to halt any deportation attempts. His appalling experience encapsulates a larger narrative involving the administration's crackdown on international students and scholars engaging in criticisms of Israel, as demonstrated by similar actions taken against other activists, like Tufts University Ph.D. student Rümeysa Öztürk, according to Al Jazeera, Reuters, and CBS News.

Mahdawi's ruling is a significant victory for advocates of free speech, as he attributed this legal success to the court's adherence to the rule of law amid governmental overreach. He emphasized, "This decision is an important step towards upholding what fear tried to destroy: the right to speak for peace and justice," highlighting the broader implications of this ruling for activists in similar positions. However, the Trump administration has indicated its intention to challenge this decision through the Board of Immigration Appeals, reflecting ongoing tensions surrounding immigration policy and academic freedom in the U.S., according to Al Jazeera, Reuters, and CBS News.