Mohsen Mahdawi graduates from Columbia University after release from ICE custody, tells CBS News he feels "victorious"

Mohsen Mahdawi graduated from Columbia University with a bachelor's degree in philosophy Monday, less than three weeks after he was released from immigration custody after being detained at what he was told was a U.S. citizenship interview.

Mahdawi — who helped lead pro-Palestinian protests on Columbia's campus in 2023 — was greeted by cheers and applause as he returned to accept his diploma, donning a blue graduation cap with the scales of justice depicted on the top. After the event, he periodically stopped to flash peace signs or take photos with other graduates.

In an interview with CBS News shortly before the ceremony, Mahdawi said he felt a "mix of emotions" — including a "feeling of being victorious."