Mohsen Mahdawi, a prominent Palestinian activist and student, successfully graduated from Columbia University at the age of 34 in May 2025. His graduation followed a notable academic journey across multiple U.S. institutions and a high-profile detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in April 2025, an event that garnered significant attention from lawmakers and human rights advocates.
Mahdawi commenced his higher education at Birzeit University in Palestine, earning a Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering in 2014. He subsequently moved to the United States, obtaining a green card in 2015 through marriage. His U.S. academic career began in 2016 at Dartmouth College, followed by studies at Lehigh University from 2018, where he pursued computer science. He transferred to Columbia University in 2021 to study philosophy.
Throughout his time at U.S. universities, Mahdawi was a leading organizer for pro-Palestinian activist groups, including serving as co-president of Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine. His activism garnered significant attention, leading to his arrest by ICE agents in April 2025 during a U.S. citizenship interview. U.S. District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford ordered his release later that month, stating there was "great harm to a person who has been charged with no crime."
The activist's prolonged academic tenure and financial support have been subjects of public scrutiny. A social media post by Daniel Friedman questioned Mahdawi's academic load, stating he was "obviously not spending very much time going to class," and queried how he paid the "70k annual tuition" at Ivy League schools. The post further alleged that Mahdawi's biography "reveals the astroturfed strategy of pro-Palestine activism — a network of foreign agents backed by mysterious funding who have infiltrated US institutions." However, reports indicate Mahdawi received a scholarship covering his tuition at Columbia, and a former Lehigh professor described him as a "gifted, committed, thoughtful and engaging student."
Mahdawi's case has become a focal point in discussions surrounding free speech, student activism, and immigration enforcement, particularly concerning pro-Palestinian voices in the United States. His release and subsequent graduation underscore the ongoing legal and social complexities faced by activists on university campuses.