US Appeals Court Overturns Release of Pro-Palestinian Activist Mohsen Mahdawi

What happened

Middle East Eye reports that a US appeals court on Tuesday overturned a previous 2025 ruling that had ordered the Trump administration to release Mohsen Mahdawi from immigration detention. Mahdawi is a pro-Palestinian activist who was detained after participating in protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. Mahdawi, 35, a permanent US resident and former graduate student at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, was detained by ICE in Vermont during a citizenship interview in April last year. A Vermont-based district judge had ruled for his release on the grounds that he had First Amendment free speech rights equivalent to US citizens.

The appeals court ruling does not command Mahdawi’s re-arrest but potentially establishes a precedent that could limit the ability of Green Card holders to gain release from immigration detention based on First Amendment protections. This is described as a setback for both free-speech activists and the broader pro-Palestinian advocacy community.

Known from the source

• A US appeals court overturned a 2025 ruling releasing Mohsen Mahdawi from immigration detention.
• Mahdawi is a pro-Palestinian activist and holds permanent US residency (Green Card).
• He was detained by ICE after attending a citizenship interview in Vermont in April of the prior year.
• A Vermont district judge had ordered his release on bond citing First Amendment rights.
• The appeals court ruling does not order Mahdawi’s re-arrest.

What remains unclear

The decision occurs amid heightened scrutiny of pro-Palestinian activism and may influence how US authorities handle detention claims tied to political speech on Gaza and related issues. No new details are given regarding Mahdawi’s current detention status following the ruling.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Current detention status of Mohsen Mahdawi following the appeals court ruling. Exact legal grounds and detailed reasoning applied by the appeals court in overturning the prior release order. Clarify timeline around Mahdawi’s citizenship interview and subsequent detention.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: Middle East Eye Gaza. Open the source.