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Immigration Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Deportation Attempt of Columbia Protester Mahdawi

Updated (3 articles)

Judge Nina Froes Terminates Deportation Case Over Certification Error On Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2026, immigration judge Nina Froes halted the government’s removal effort against Palestinian graduate student Mohsen Mahdawi, finding that immigration attorneys failed to properly certify a key evidentiary document, a violation of federal procedural rules that could be appealed by the administration [1].

Mohsen Mahdawi’s Background and Protest Leadership Mahdawi, born in a West Bank refugee camp, has lived in the United States as a legal permanent resident for ten years and emerged as a prominent leader of Columbia University demonstrations opposing Israel’s actions in Gaza; he was detained during a citizenship interview in April and released two weeks later by a federal judge [1].

Administration Relies on State Department Memo to Justify Removal Officials cited a memo from Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserting that non‑citizens whose presence might undermine U.S. foreign‑policy interests may be expelled, using this justification as the legal basis for the attempted deportation of Mahdawi [1].

Mahdawi’s Separate Unlawful Detention Lawsuit Continues In addition to the immigration case, Mahdawi has filed a federal district‑court lawsuit alleging that his April detention violated his rights; that civil suit remains pending and is unrelated to the halted removal proceedings [1].

DHS Labels Mahdawi Pro‑Terrorist While Judge Blocks Removal DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin described Mahdawi as a “pro‑terrorist” activist, called for revocation of his visa, and asserted that no judge could stop the government, despite the procedural ruling that temporarily protects him [1].

Pattern of Judicial Setbacks in Campus Activist Deportations The decision follows a similar ruling last month in which an immigration judge blocked the deportation of Tufts graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk, who faced removal over an op‑ed criticizing her school’s Gaza response, suggesting a broader judicial resistance to the administration’s campus‑activist removal strategy [1].

Sources

Timeline

2023 – Elon Musk’s social‑media company sues the Center for Countering Digital Hate, founded by Imran Ahmed, over a report on rising hate speech; the case is dismissed but an appeal remains pending [1].

Mar 2025 – Secretary of State Marco Rubio posts on X that the United States will revoke visas and green cards of “Hamas supporters,” signalling a new crackdown on critics of Israel [2].

Apr 2025 – Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian legal permanent resident and Columbia protest leader, is arrested during a citizenship interview and held for two weeks before a federal judge releases him [3].

May 2025 – A federal judge orders the release of Tufts PhD candidate Rümeysa Öztürk after her visa is revoked despite a State Department memo finding no DHS/ICE terrorism evidence; the judge warns the detention could chill speech [2].

Dec 26, 2025 – U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick grants a temporary restraining order that blocks the detention of British campaigner Imran Ahmed, allowing him to remain in the United States while his lawsuit proceeds [1].

Dec 2025 – Imran Ahmed files a suit naming Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Attorney General Pamela Bondi, challenging the visa‑related sanctions as a violation of his due‑process rights [1].

Jan 24, 2026 – The New York Times publishes unsealed court documents showing that the Trump‑era State Department, under Rubio, revoked student visas—including Öztürk’s—without solid evidence, raising First‑Amendment concerns [2].

Jan 2026 (last month) – An immigration judge blocks the deportation of Tufts graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk, marking a second recent judicial setback for the administration’s campus‑activist removal effort [3].

Feb 17, 2026 – Immigration Judge Nina Froes halts the deportation of Palestinian protest leader Mohsen Mahdawi, finding the government failed to properly certify a key evidence document; the administration signals it may appeal [3].

Feb 2026 – DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin labels Mahdawi a “pro‑terrorist” activist and declares “no judge will stop the government,” underscoring the administration’s hard‑line stance [3].

2026 (ongoing) – Ahmed’s lawsuit against Rubio and Bondi proceeds, and Mahdawi’s separate unlawful‑detention suit remains pending, indicating continued legal battles over the visa‑sanction policy [1][3].

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