Mohsen Mahdawi

Academics & Education

State Department official defends canceling visas of pro-Palestinian academics The official testified at an ongoing trial that Trump’s deportation drive targets antisemitism and support for terrorism, not ideology or speech.

July 11, 2025   

(Politico) A top State Department official vigorously defended the Trump administration’s drive to cancel the visas of pro-Palestinian academics, arguing that the effort does not abridge free speech and targets students who are supporting terrorism or promoting antisemitism. John Armstrong, State’s top […]

Academics & Education

Trump’s effort to deport pro-Palestinian activists goes to trial The case challenging the administration’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian academics marks the first major trial of Trump’s second term.

July 6, 2025 and   

(Politico) At least five times in recent weeks, federal judges have forcefully rejected President Donald Trump’s efforts to deport pro-Palestinian student activists, issuing one stinging ruling after another to declare the efforts unconstitutional — with one judge comparing the deportation drive to […]

Academics & Education

Student visa applicants with ‘hostile attitudes’ will be told they can’t come to the U.S. The State Department will start reviewing social media ‘to make America and its universities safer.’

June 18, 2025   

(Free Press) State Department employees who review applications from foreign citizens for student and exchange visas will be told to review their social media posts and search for signs that they “bear hostile attitudes toward our citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding […]

Academics & Education

Harvard commencement speaker lauds classmate who assaulted Israeli student — to whoops and cheers from the crowd Elom Tettey-Tamaklo was ordered to complete anger management course and perform 80 hours of community service

May 30, 2025 and   

(Free Beacon) A Harvard Divinity School graduate selected by faculty members to speak at the school’s commencement ceremony used her address to praise Elom Tettey-Tamaklo, a classmate who faced criminal charges for assaulting an Israeli classmate. “Class of 2025, Palestine is waiting for us […]

Academics & Education

Mohsen Mahdawi, in deportation battle with Trump admin, bragged to neighbors about building guns for terrorists According to a 2015 police report and locals who spoke with the Free Beacon, the Columbia University activist said he 'like[d] to kill Jews'

May 7, 2025   

(Free Beacon) A Palestinian activist at Columbia University spooked neighbors in his small Vermont town by bragging about his hatred of Jews and his background of building weapons for terrorist groups, according to interviews and 2015 police records obtained by the Washington […]

Academics & Education

Dem senator visits detained Columbia activist who said he ‘can empathize’ with Hamas’s decision to massacre Jews 'I'm here with our friend from the Upper Valley,' Peter Welch tells Mohsen Mahdawi

April 22, 2025 and   

(Free Beacon) Sen. Peter Welch (D., Vt.) visited detained Columbia University activist Mohsen Mahdawi on Monday, calling him a “friend” and praising his work with “Jewish brothers and sisters” on Columbia’s campus. In the wake of Oct. 7, Mahdawi said he could […]