Trump-Appointed Judges Block Release of Pro-Palestine Columbia Student from ICE Custody
A federal appeals court panel, consisting of two Trump appointees and one George W. Bush appointee, overturned a lower court ruling that had freed Columbia student and pro-Palestinian protester Mohsen Mahdawi from ICE custody. The Second Circuit panel ruled that the Vermont-based federal judge who initially ordered Mahdawi's release in 2025 lacked jurisdiction. Mahdawi, a West Bank refugee, was arrested following a pressure campaign led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who argued Mahdawi's presence could undermine U.S. foreign policy. The article also covers broader political context, including Trump's lack of engagement with congressional Republicans ahead of midterms and a House Democratic investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's alleged foreign agent activities.
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