Senator Peter Welch of Vermont, a Democrat, visited imprisoned Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi on Monday. Welch posted a video of their conversation on X, where Mahdawi expressed his belief in democracy and desire to become a citizen.
Mahdawi was arrested on April 14 during a citizenship interview, which his lawyers say was "a trap" in retaliation for his activism at Columbia University. He remains in detention, with a federal court hearing set for Wednesday to consider his release.
I met with Mohsen Mahdawi today.
— Senator Peter Welch (@SenPeterWelch) April 21, 2025
Listen to his message. pic.twitter.com/MU280oAQ9T
The White House reiterated that law enforcement actions must align with constitutional protections and national security interests. Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously stated visa and green card revocations would target those undermining U.S. foreign policy.
