Mohsen Mahdawi did everything right. He moved to the United States in 2014. He studied hard. He contributed to his community. He followed the legal process toward citizenship. On the day he was supposed to take the final step in that journey—his naturalization interview—he was instead detained by masked, armed agents and taken away in handcuffs.

His crime? Exercising his First Amendment rights.

Mohsen, a permanent U.S. resident and student at Columbia University, peacefully participated in protests against the war in Gaza.

That’s not illegal. That’s free speech.

That’s supposed to be protected. And yet, he was arrested in what appears to be a targeted act of retaliation for speaking out.

This isn’t just about one student. This is about what kind of country we want to live in. A nation where peaceful dissent is punished with detention and deportation is not a free nation. It's a frightening step toward authoritarianism.

Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Becca Balint have called Mohsen’s detention “immoral, inhumane, and illegal.” We agree. This is a dangerous precedent, one that threatens not only immigrants but every person who dares to raise their voice.

We demand the immediate release of Mohsen Mahdawi and the protection of his rights under the law. If this can happen to him, it can happen to anyone.

Enough is enough. Free Mohsen now.

Photo: Christopher Helali