1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing as a concerned constituent to urge you to speak out and take immediate action regarding the arrest of Mohsen Mahdawi, a legal U.S. resident and Columbia University student. Mr. Mahdawi was detained at his citizenship interview in Vermont, despite having no criminal record and meeting all eligibility requirements. His only apparent offense was participating in pro-Palestinian activism, which led to his name being publicly listed by a private political group. This arrest appears to be a clear act of political retaliation. The use of obscure immigration laws to silence dissent and target activists is deeply alarming. It violates the spirit of our Constitution and sets a dangerous precedent for government overreach. No one should be punished for exercising their right to free speech, especially not through coordinated efforts between federal agencies and politically motivated outside groups. As your constituent, I am asking you to publicly condemn this abuse of power and demand an investigation into how and why Mr. Mahdawi was targeted. This moment requires more than silence. It requires leadership that defends our democratic principles, including the protection of lawful residents and the right to political expression. I urge you to do everything in your power to ensure Mr. Mahdawi’s release and to prevent future misuse of federal authority in this way. The rights and dignity of our communities depend on it. Thank you for your time and attention to this critical matter.