ICE agents arrest anti-Israel activist at citizenship appointment

Immigration agents arrested anti-Israel activist Mohsen Madawi during his U.S. citizenship appointment on Monday at a Vermont office.

Madawi, a Palestinian student from Judea and Samaria, had been living in the U.S. for over a decade, holding a green card after obtaining legal residency. He was detained at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office in Burlington, as reported by The Intercept.

The incident appears linked to the Trump administration's efforts to remove activists like Madawi, who had previously led anti-Israel protests at Columbia University until last spring. Video footage shared on X shows Madawi being escorted with his hands shackled and surrounded by federal agents before being placed into an unmarked vehicle.

In a statement to The Intercept, Madawi expressed his fear of being targeted, saying, "It’s kind of a death sentence. My people are being killed unjustly in an indiscriminate way."

Madawi’s attorney, Luna Droubi, condemned the arrest, asserting, "He was unlawfully detained today for no reason other than his Palestinian identity. He came to this country hoping to be free to speak out about the atrocities he has witnessed, only to be punished for such speech."

Columbia University declined to comment due to its Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) obligations. Neither the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) nor the State Department responded to inquiries about the arrest.

Madawi, who was close to detained protester Mahmoud Khalil, had anticipated becoming a target of mass deportation and went into hiding, seeking help from the university for shelter. However, Madawi said Columbia did not respond to his request.