April 16th, 2025 –
Partners for Progressive Israel condemns the kidnapping of Columbia University student and peace activist Mohsen Mahdawi by ICE this weekend, and calls on United States senators and representatives– especially Senators Schumer and Gillibrand– to condemn this retaliatory action by the United States immigration enforcement. Mahdawi, a green card holder, was present at immigration offices in Vermont for a naturalization interview when he was apprehended by ICE. We are deeply concerned that his family and legal representation have not been able to locate him, despite a legal petition filed in Vermont to prevent his removal from the state.
We are also deeply disturbed to see far-right Jewish groups including Betar US and Canary Mission claiming involvement and influence in these proceedings, including the generation of a “deportation list” for campus activists. Such involvement is not only a stark violation of democratic norms, but flies in the face of Jewish values. Alongside his activism for Palestinian rights and self-determination and for a ceasefire in Gaza, Mahdawi has been a strong voice against antisemitism in campus protests and in the wider ceasefire movement, and a trusted colleague in organizing for peace work and dialogue across sharp lines of difference with both PPI and a number of our New York area partners.
PPI Board Vice President Gili Getz said, “As a Jewish Israeli who believes in peace, I found great inspiration in Mohsen. We spent hours discussing peacebuilding between our peoples. He is a truly remarkable leader — someone who consistently took on the difficult and often thankless work of bridge-building in an increasingly polarized environment. His approach was always grounded in compassion, respect, empathy, and a commitment to solution-based dialogue.He should be released immediately. “
“No one should experience such a retaliatory violation of their human rights by ICE or any other governmental organization,” said Partners Executive Director Rabbi Margo Hughes-Robinson. “But the decision to target a peace activist dedicated to building bridges between Israelis, Palestinians, Jews, and other groups on a deeply fractured campus continues to drive home the point that the recent arrests of university students who have expressed support for Palestinians – including Mahmoud Khalil and Rumeysa Öztürk – has nothing to do with national security, and is instead a violent tool to suppress and intimidate a broader ceasefire movement.”
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