Court Sends Pro-Palestinian Activist Back to Deportation | Montpelier News

A federal appeals court has overturned a lower court ruling that would’ve kept pro-Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi in the U.S., sending him back to deportation proceedings. The higher court ruled the initial judge overstepped by intervening before Mahdawi completed his immigration court process — a move echoing a similar case involving student Mahmoud Khalil earlier this year. The decision doesn’t address whether Mahdawi was targeted for his criticism of Israel, only that legal procedures weren’t followed. Mahdawi, a 35-year-old born in a refugee camp and naturalized in 2015, was detained during a citizenship interview in April 2025 as part of a broader government push against student activists. His ACLU lawyers argue he can’t be deported while his appeal is pending, while the government contends legal tools like habeas corpus shouldn’t be available while immigration cases are ongoing — a stance critics say undermines due process, especially given the shaky outcomes under the Trump administration. Another major case, involving Rumeysa Ozturk, is pending, with potential implications for future rulings. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/707e512175c078aa