Second Circuit Voids 2025 Order Freeing Mohsen Mahdawi, Reviving Risk of Detention
Updated
Updated · The Boston Globe · Jul 21
Second Circuit Voids 2025 Order Freeing Mohsen Mahdawi, Reviving Risk of Detention
3 articles · Updated · The Boston Globe · Jul 21
Summary
A unanimous 3-judge Second Circuit panel ruled Tuesday that a Vermont federal judge lacked authority to free Mohsen Mahdawi and ordered his habeas petition dismissed.
Mahdawi, 35, was detained during an April 2025 citizenship interview after immigration authorities labeled him a national-security threat; Judge Geoffrey Crawford released him after 16 days in prison.
The appeals court did not address Mahdawi’s claim that the Trump administration targeted his pro-Palestinian advocacy at Columbia University, saying constitutional challenges must wait until immigration proceedings run their course.
That ruling could expose Mahdawi to detention again, though his lawyers said they will appeal and argued the government currently has no lawful basis to redetain or deport him.