Palestinian Activist Mohsen Mahdawi Released, Launches Vermont Immigrant Initiative; Cuban Mother Appeals to Trump; Judge Orders Refugee Resettlement

Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian student and U.S. resident, was released after 16 days in custody following a judge's ruling that his arrest was politically motivated. He is now leading an immigrant legal aid initiative in Vermont. In Cuba, Heidy Sánchez, deported from the U.S., is seeking help from Donald Trump to reunite with her family. A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to resettle 12,000 refugees, challenging its immigration policies. Additionally, a federal appeals court upheld a Vermont judge's ruling regarding Turkish student Rümeysa Öztürk's transfer to federal custody.

Palestinian Student Mohsen Mahdawi Released After 16 Days in Custody

Mohsen Mahdawi, 34, a legal permanent resident originally from a refugee camp in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, was arrested during a citizenship interview in Colchester, Vermont. He had been a prominent organizer of campus protests at Columbia University against Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in over 52,000 Palestinian deaths.

The Trump administration argued that Mahdawi’s activism posed a threat to U.S. foreign policy and sought his deportation. However, on April 30, a federal judge ordered his release, stating that Mahdawi had presented a “substantial claim” that his arrest was politically motivated and intended to suppress dissenting speech.

Mahdawi spent 16 days in a state prison before his release. His case has drawn national attention, with Vermont’s House and Senate passing resolutions condemning the circumstances of his detention. Republican Governor Phil Scott criticized the arrest, stating, “There is no justification for the manner in which Mahdawi was arrested.”

Launch of Vermont Immigration Legal Defense Fund

Following his release, Mahdawi is now working with Vermont officials and community leaders to launch the Vermont Immigration Legal Defense Fund. The initiative aims to provide legal support to immigrants facing deportation and to strengthen the state’s immigration legal infrastructure.

Mahdawi appeared at the Vermont Statehouse alongside State Treasurer Mike Pieciak, Senate Majority Leader Kesha Ram Hinsdale, and other advocates to announce the initiative. “Justice is inevitable. We will not fear anyone because our fight is a fight for love, a fight for democracy, a fight for humanity,” Mahdawi told supporters.

The fund will focus on improving access to legal representation for immigrants and building long-term support systems within the justice system. Mahdawi’s release allows him to travel outside Vermont, and he plans to attend his graduation at Columbia University later this month.

Cuban Mother Deported, Pleads With Trump for Family Reunification

In Havana, 44-year-old Heidy Sánchez, a Cuban-born mother and wife of a U.S. citizen, is pleading with former President Donald Trump to help her return to the United States. Sánchez was deported in April after being detained during a routine check-in at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in Florida.

Sánchez, who had been living in the U.S. since 2019, was breastfeeding her one-year-old daughter at the time of her deportation. She had previously spent nine months in immigration detention and was allowed to remain in the U.S. despite a missed court appearance that led to a deportation order.

After her release, Sánchez rebuilt her life, married Carlos Yuniel Valle, a U.S. citizen, and gave birth to their daughter, Kailyn, in 2023. Now separated from her family, Sánchez makes daily video calls to sing her daughter to sleep. “My baby is little, she needs me,” she told the Associated Press. “I am physically and mentally destroyed.”

Her family and legal team are campaigning for a humanitarian visa and have received support from Rep. Kathy Castor of Tampa, who has requested Sánchez’s parole from the Trump administration.

Judge Orders Trump Administration to Resettle 12,000 Refugees

In a significant legal development, U.S. District Judge Jamal Whitehead has ordered the Trump administration to immediately begin resettling approximately 12,000 refugees. The ruling partially blocks an executive order signed by Trump on his first day in office that suspended the refugee admissions program.

Judge Whitehead, appointed in 2023, stated that the administration’s actions amounted to an “effective nullification of congressional will” regarding refugee admissions. The court order requires the government to resume processing refugee cases within seven days, including those whose medical and security clearances have not expired.

The Trump administration had argued that it should only be required to process 160 refugees and indicated plans to appeal the ruling. However, the judge emphasized that the administration must comply with the court’s directive.

Federal Appeals Court Upholds Vermont Judge’s Ruling in Öztürk Case

In a related case, a federal appeals court has ordered the Trump administration to comply with a Vermont judge’s ruling to transfer Rümeysa Öztürk, a Turkish graduate student, to federal immigration custody in Vermont. The Department of Justice had argued that the ruling interfered with federal immigration enforcement and imposed operational burdens on ICE.

Despite these objections, the appeals court upheld the lower court’s decision, reinforcing judicial oversight over immigration enforcement actions.

Judge Seeks Details on Immigrants Held in El Salvador

Separately, District Court Judge James E. Boasberg is demanding more information from the Trump administration regarding the detention of approximately 200 Venezuelan immigrants at a prison in El Salvador. The men were deported under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a wartime law invoked by Trump in March.

Boasberg is investigating whether the U.S. maintains “constructive custody” over the detainees, which could require their return to the U.S. for due process. The Supreme Court has already ruled that individuals cannot be deported under the Alien Enemies Act without a chance to challenge their designation in court.

The administration has refused to disclose the terms of its agreement with El Salvador, which reportedly includes a $20 million payment. Boasberg is also considering whether to hold the government in contempt for proceeding with the deportations despite a prior court order.

References

• Released Palestinian student to meet with Vermont governor and lawmakers - The Boston Globe
• Released Palestinian student to meet with Vermont governor and lawmakers
• Cuban mother deported from US pleads with Trump to reunite with her family
• Cuban mother deported from US pleads with Trump to reunite with her family
• Federal judge orders Trump admin to immediately resettle 12K migrants
• Federal appeals court orders Trump administration to transfer Rümeysa Öztürk to Vermont - VTDigger
• Judge seeks more information from Trump administration about prison deal with El Salvador