The Trump administration, under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is seeking the deportation of Mohsen Mahdawi, a 34-year-old legal permanent resident and Columbia University student. The justification cited is that his pro-Palestinian activities could potentially undermine the Middle East peace process. This action is based on a law also used in the case of Mahmoud Khalil, another Columbia student protester.
An immigration judge ruled that Rubio's memo alone was sufficient evidence to begin deportation proceedings against Khalil, despite a lack of concrete evidence of wrongdoing. This sets a concerning precedent for the power of the Secretary of State to initiate deportations based on subjective assessments of foreign policy impact.
Mahdawi, who had been in hiding, presented himself for naturalization but was detained by DHS agents. The Rubio memo directly served as the justification for his arrest. The legal challenge in Khalil's case has significant implications for Mahdawi's future.
The cases of Mahdawi and Khalil raise serious concerns about due process and the potential for political motivations behind deportation decisions. The broad interpretation of the law allows for the deportation of legal residents based solely on the Secretary of State's assessment, without substantial evidence of harm to U.S. foreign policy.