Columbia Activist’s Deportation Upheld | Albany News

Albany News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 21, 2026 · 2m

A federal appeals court has sided with the government, reversing a lower court’s order to release pro-Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi — a Columbia grad and refugee camp-born resident — paving the way for his deportation after over a year of legal battles. The court ruled the judge overstepped by intervening before immigration court proceedings were complete, while declining to address Mahdawi’s central claim that he was targeted for criticizing Israel. His lawyers argue he must remain free during appeal, and Mahdawi called the ruling a “grave setback” that empowers the government to…