Pro-Palestinian activists rally for Mohsen Mahdawi and protest against deportations outside of ICE Headquarters on April 15 in New York City. Photo by Adam Gray/Getty Images
Editor’s note: A version of the following was first published as an open letter; find all the signatories here.
We are a group of Israeli citizens in the U.S. who are appalled by the immoral detainment of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian activist and an advocate of peace, by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Monday.
Some of us previously spoke out against the threat of deportations when the Trump administration, in late January, issued its first executive order on combating antisemitism. We stated then and still assert that the administration’s plans do not protect us, but rather endanger us. We reject the use of deportations to suppress free speech under the guise of combating antisemitism.
The case of Mohsen Mahdawi, in particular, reveals that the Trump administration is using the pretext of protecting Jews to further its extreme agenda of silencing political voices that do not align with it.
Many of us experienced the upheavals of the past year and a half on Columbia University’s campus in a deeply personal and emotional way. We are deeply affected by the experiences of antisemitism and hate on our campus, and disheartened by the lack of nuanced dialogue on campus and within society at large about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
However, we adamantly oppose the use of the immigration system as a punitive political tool and an alternative to the criminal justice system when no crime has been committed.
The United States has a long tradition of being a bastion of free speech. Sometimes that even means allowing speech we oppose, or which causes us deep discomfort and emotional harm. Americans understand that freedom of speech is a pillar of democracy. Not only is it a constitutional right, but a human right that must be applied to non-citizens, visa and green card holders as well.
We as Jews remember our history. Our visas were revoked, we were detained, and we were deported. We know that we are more threatened under an authoritarian regime, and that our true safety lies in solidarity with other vulnerable groups. We will not allow our pain to be used to pursue an anti-democratic agenda.
We oppose the deportation of anyone based on their viewpoint. And the targeting of Mohsen is especially absurd given his prominent voice in advocating for dialogue and cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians on Columbia’s campus, in the New York City community, and beyond.
Mohsen actively built ties with Israelis, understanding that the only sustainable way forward in Israel and Palestine is through shared work between Israelis and Palestinians. Many of us have worked with and gotten to know Mohsen on a very personal level. We have been moved by his empathy, kindness and fortitude. Several of us feel that working with Mohsen has been the most valuable experience of our time at Columbia University.
Mohsen’s presence and leadership on campus gave us hope that Israelis and Palestinians could work together, not just to understand each other, but to transform our societies and create a peaceful resolution. For there to be any chance of healing emotional wounds and building a shared future, we must all have the freedom to speak and protest, especially when we disagree.
Deporting Mohsen would send a devastating message: That there is no space for bridge-building or peace work at Columbia University, or in the U.S. It would suggest that the U.S. government prefers to sustain division rather than support the students and communities striving for reconciliation and peace.
Many Palestinians have argued that they are marginalized no matter what form their objection to Israeli policy takes. Trump’s policies are proving them right. The detention of Mohsen creates a dangerous chilling effect when it comes to speech: The government is sending a message that those who oppose the war on Gaza, and particularly those who are Palestinian, will pay a heavy price for speaking out on political and human rights issues.
In doing so, the Trump administration reinforces the notion that nonviolent resistance, dialogue, and cross-community building are not viable alternatives to violence, directly endangering Israelis and Palestinians even more.
Mohsen Mahdawi is not a threat. He is a partner for peace. While some of us may not agree with him on every element of the conflict, and often have differing tactics or strategies, we all share a commitment to human rights, dialogue and peace.
As Mohsen put it during one of our meetings: “We are the new generation and want for our children to live a new reality, a reality of love and peace. We reject contributing to the ongoing cycle of violence and injustice, and we want to create a world of coexistence.”
Deporting him will not only put him in immediate danger. It will constitute an attack on our collective future and the possibility of liberation for all, Palestinians and Israelis.
We urge all who care about human dignity, democracy, and peace to take action with us. Join us in Manhattan this Sunday at 4 p.m. in Union Square to demand Mohsen’s release and to stand against the use of deportation as a tool of political repression. Your voice, your presence and your solidarity matter at this crucial time.
Find all the signatories of this letter here.
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