By Trendsetter Tribune 
In a significant rebuke to the Trump administration’s crackdown on campus activism, a federal immigration judge has terminated the removal proceedings against Mohsen Mahdawi, a 35-year-old Columbia University graduate student and Palestinian green-card holder. The ruling, announced by his legal team on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, marks the second high-profile dismissal of an “ideological deportation” case in recent weeks.
The decision by Immigration Judge Nina Froes turned on a technical but critical failure by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS): the government failed to properly authenticate a key document—reportedly a memorandum from Secretary of State Marco Rubio—that served as the legal basis for declaring Mahdawi a foreign-policy threat.
The “Honey Trap” at the Citizenship Interview
Mahdawi’s case gained national attention in April 2025 when he was arrested under circumstances his lawyers described as a “trap.”
- The Arrest: After living legally in the U.S. for a decade, Mahdawi was called to a naturalization interview in Colchester, Vermont. Minutes after he took his oath of allegiance, plainclothes ICE agents surrounded and handcuffed him.
- The Allegations: The administration utilized an obscure provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act, claiming Mahdawi’s organization of pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia posed “serious adverse foreign policy consequences.”
- Red Scare Comparison: Upon his initial release on bail in May 2025, U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford famously compared the government’s tactics to the Red Scare and the Palmer Raids of the early 20th century.
A Pattern of Legal Defeats for DHS
Mahdawi is the second student to see their deportation case collapse this month. On January 29, 2026, an immigration judge in Boston terminated proceedings against Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts University doctoral candidate who was targeted after co-authoring a student newspaper op-ed critical of the university’s response to the war in Gaza.
“I am grateful to the court for honoring the rule of law and holding the line against the government’s attempts to trample on due process.” — Mohsen Mahdawi (Feb 17, 2026)
The State of Play: Campus Crackdowns (Feb 2026)
| Figure | Status | Primary Allegation |
| Mohsen Mahdawi | Case Terminated (Feb 17). | Organizing campus protests; “foreign policy threat.” |
| Rümeysa Öztürk | Case Terminated (Jan 29). | Co-authoring an anti-war editorial. |
| Mahmoud Khalil | In Custody (Louisiana). | Lead negotiator for Columbia student encampment. |
| Rajani Srinivasan | Self-Deported to Canada. | Fled after visa revocation following campus arrest. |
What Happens Next?
While the dismissal is a major win, the legal battle is not entirely over:
- Government Appeal: The ruling was issued “without prejudice,” meaning DHS can refile the charges if they can fix the authentication issues or appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals.
- Federal Civil Suit: Mahdawi’s attorneys are continuing a separate federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the administration’s “ideological deportation” policy, arguing it violates the First Amendment.
- Citizenship Status: It remains unclear if or when Mahdawi will be allowed to complete his naturalization process, which was interrupted by his arrest.