US releases Mohsen Mahdawi, detained Columbia student activist

In the United States, Columbia University student and Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi was released from U.S. immigration detention on Wednesday, local time, after a federal judge ruled his arrest was unjustified.

Mahdawi, a 34-year-old who has permanent U.S. residency or "green card" status, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on April 14, during a naturalization interview in Vermont.

The Trump administration attempted to deport Mahdawi under a rarely used statute, alleging his advocacy for Palestinian rights threatened U.S. foreign policy.

However, U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford found no evidence that Mahdawi posed a flight risk or danger and ordered his release.