Video: Hamas Sympathizer Posing as a Columbia Student Thought He’d Get Citizenship — DHS Had a Surprise Instead
By: George Rowe, National Security Correspondent
April 15, 2025
Colchester, VT – Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian-born Columbia University student and green card holder, thought April 14, 2025, would be the day he became a U.S. citizen. Instead, he was met with a stunning surprise: Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents arrested him during his citizenship interview, as captured in a viral video shared on X by @Chicago1Ray. For conservatives, the arrest is a triumphant moment in the Trump administration’s crackdown on what they call “Hamas sympathizers,” and they’re celebrating it as a win for national security.
The video, viewed over 800,000 times, shows Mahdawi being escorted out of a federal building in Colchester, Vermont, by two HSI agents, one wearing a “POLICE” jacket, while a friend—later identified as @ChrisHelali—films the scene. Mahdawi, a leader in Columbia’s pro-Palestinian protests last spring alongside Mahmoud Khalil, was targeted under an obscure immigration law provision allowing the Secretary of State to deport noncitizens deemed to have “adverse foreign policy consequences,” per a CBS News report on April 14 []. The same provision was used to detain Khalil, whose deportation proceedings were greenlit by a judge on April 11, as reported by BBC [].
Video:
Conservatives on X, like @Chicago1Ray, were ecstatic: “Hamas sympathizer- Mohan Mahdawi posing as a Columbia student, thought he was going to receive his citizenship today, He was arrested instead by the Dept of Homeland Security…. this is what i voted for!” @MAGAForce2024 echoed, “DHS just sent a message—no citizenship for terrorists!” However, critics like @DineshDSouza pointed to Mahdawi’s 2023 CBS 60 Minutes interview, where he condemned an antisemitic remark at a rally, saying, “You don’t represent us,” suggesting the “pro-Hamas” label might be overstated. Still, Mahdawi’s Instagram post—shared by @EYakoby—showing him with a rifle and praising Palestinian resistance didn’t help his case.
Isn’t this the guy? He apparently forgot to bring his gun to the “60 Minutes” interview. pic.twitter.com/CWd66nESNe
— Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) April 15, 2025
What MSM won't show you 👇 pic.twitter.com/ZJcn44VSEt
— BlackApple (@BlackApple) April 15, 2025
Mahdawi’s arrest is part of a broader Trump administration effort targeting foreign-born student activists, with 600 student visas revoked since March 2025, per The New York Times []. His legal team, led by Luna Droubi, claims the detention is “in direct retaliation” for his advocacy, violating his First Amendment rights, per BBC []. For conservatives, though, it’s justice served. @PatriotPulse wrote, “He participated in Columbia’s mayhem—now he’s out!” As @America1stMAGA put it, “Trump’s DHS doesn’t play—Hamas sympathizers are done here.” The arrest video has become a rallying cry for Trump supporters, who see it as proof the administration is putting America first.
I’m shrewd, passionate, learned and energetic, God-fearing and patriotic. I’ve done a fine job reintroducing good old American conservatism to a new generation of Americans. I’ve earned the love and friendship of many, the hatred of some, but the respect of all.
See him again and kill him.
he ONLY wants to to put it IN ya’…..
Too bad its come to this but Communist and Islamic infiltration is a problem we can’t ignore. Both are expansionist and covert until they get a majority, then they take over the system. This is the same way globalization works, they hide and talk all patriotic until they can take control. We came so so close to losing our country and it’s not over yet.