Pictures: Mohsen Mahdawi Released from Custody in Vermont

On April 30, 2025, Mohsen Mahdawi, the Buddhist Palestinian peace activist who had been abducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for speaking out against the violence in Israel/Palestine, was released from the Federal Courthouse in Burlington, Vermont, where he had been held since being detained during a routine naturalization interview earlier that month. Vermont resident and Tricycle’s ACLS Buddhism Public Scholar Zim Pickens was on the scene:

Early in the morning, on April 30, the Columbia undergraduate student Mohsen Mahdawi was brought to his hearing at the Federal Courthouse, in Burlington, Vermont. As legal proceedings unfolded behind closed doors, a growing crowd of activists, musicians, and sympathizers joined together outside the building, calling for his release. Large papier-mâché birds of peace—made by the renowned Bread & Puppet Theater—waved in the brisk wind, along with numerous flags. 

Drumming and singing contributed to a festive atmosphere. Meanwhile, on the grass lawn adjacent to the courthouse, a small group sat with eyes closed, their silent meditation contrasting to the clamorous voices of the gathering and the honking of passing vehicles. By 9:00 a.m., nearly 300 Vermonters had gathered to support Mohsen, who has become a focal point for those alarmed by the current administration’s treatment of immigrants. 

Around 10:15 a.m., the first person from inside the courthouse burst through the doors, exuberantly shouting, “He’s free!” The crowd roared with approval, experiencing the collective release brought about by this unexpected news, and the cheering only increased as Mohsen’s lawyers slowly made their way outside with a profound sense of relief. Mohsen himself finally emerged, with arms raised high in victory, meeting the moment with calm dignity. He spoke eloquently about his release, and why it stands for so much more—for detained students and immigrants, for democracy, and for Palestinians. Much of what Mohsen said that morning is echoed in his May 2 New York Times guest essay, where he shares a vision of justice and love in the face of hate.