His Journey and Voice
Photo by: Heather Chen / Columbia Daily Spectator
Mohsen’s Fight
● DONATE
Legal Defense Fund
Mohsen Mahdawi is involved in two connected legal cases that test how the First Amendment applies to immigrants in the United States.
Mohsen faces deportation after being detained by ICE during what should have been a routine naturalization interview.
1 - Immigration case
He is also challenging that detention, arguing that immigrants, like everyone in this country, have the right to speak, assemble, and express political opinions without fear that their immigration status will be used against them.
2 - Civil rights case
Several attorneys are working on Mohsen’s behalf without pay, but the cases require funding for research, filings, and expert support.
Contributing to this fund helps ensure his case receives the resources it needs and that its outcome strengthens constitutional protections for free speech. These protections affect immigrants and citizens alike.
● VOLUNTEER
Volunteer and Stand with Mohsen
Mohsen’s legal cases are still active, and the outcomes will shape how free speech is protected for immigrants in the United States.
He is no longer in detention, but he faces the risk of being taken into custody again while his immigration case moves forward. This campaign relies on a strong network of people who can help with public education, rapid response, and community outreach.
Volunteers play a key role in keeping Mohsen safe, supporting his legal team, and building public understanding of the stakes in his case.
If you want to take part in this effort, your time and skills can make an immediate impact.
● YEARS LATER
60 Minutes interview with Bill Whitaker
That experience was cut short in April 2025 when Mahdawi walked into a Vermont immigration office expecting to complete his U.S. citizenship process. Instead, he was handcuffed and detained. The arrest, widely seen as retaliation for his pro-Palestinian activism, sparked national solidarity.
Upon his release, he declared, “I am not afraid of you.”
● FROM DISPLACEMENT TO DIPLOMACY
Photo by Alex Driehaus
