Palestinian Protester on His Way to Citizenship Test Arrested by ICE in VT

Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian student at Columbia University, was arrested by ICE during his citizenship interview in Vermont. Mahdawi, a green card holder, has lived in the U.S. for 10 years and sought naturalization. He is a leader in campus protests against Israel's actions in Gaza. His lawyer claims his arrest is due to his Palestinian identity and activism. ICE initiated deportation proceedings to send him to the West Bank. Senator Rebecca White filmed Mahdawi being escorted by masked men to unmarked vehicles. The arrest has sparked concerns about free speech and targeting of Palestinian activists. His lawyer asserts the detention was unlawful, punishing him for his political views. Mahdawi's case highlights the challenges faced by some green card holders involved in political activism. The incident took place at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office.