A federal appeals court on July 21, 2026, overturned a lower court ruling that ordered the Trump administration to release Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi from immigration detention. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that the lower court lacked jurisdiction to decide Mahdawi's case, stating that his claims should first be resolved through immigration court proceedings.
The three-judge panel ruled that the district court should not have addressed the question of whether Mahdawi was unlawfully targeted based on First Amendment protected activity, as it did not have subject matter jurisdiction over the habeas petition. Mahdawi, who was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Vermont in April 2025 while attending an interview related to his U.S. citizenship petition, had gained attention for his involvement in anti-Israel demonstrations at Columbia University in 2024.
U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford had previously ordered Mahdawi's release on bond, determining he was not a flight risk and that noncitizens have First Amendment speech protections. However, the appeals court did not order Mahdawi to be taken back into custody.
This case is part of a broader legal dispute regarding the Trump administration's efforts to remove noncitizens involved in anti-Israel protests, with the administration arguing that their presence could harm U.S. foreign policy interests. Civil-liberties groups contend that such policies infringe on constitutionally protected speech.
Mahdawi has described himself as a peaceful Buddhist opposed to violence, although his past statements have drawn scrutiny from organizations monitoring anti-Israel activism. Allegations have also been made regarding Mahdawi's past comments about firearms, but he has not been charged with any crime.
The decision follows a similar ruling involving another Columbia-affiliated activist, Mahmoud Khalil, who was released from immigration detention earlier in the year. The 3rd Circuit Court had also determined that Khalil's claims should be addressed within the immigration system before reaching federal court. Brett Schumate, the assistant attorney general for civil rights at the Justice Department, stated that the decision reinforces the importance of adhering to the established immigration removal-review process.