“I am not afraid of you!”

Mohsen Mahdawi was released today on bail at the order of Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford of Federal District Court in Vermont. His immigration case continues, but he can fight it from outside a detention facility.

Mr. Mahdawi, 34, had been in custody since April 14, when immigration officials detained him at an appointment in Vermont that he thought was a step toward becoming a U.S. citizen.

In granting the release of Mr. Mahdawi, a Vermont resident, Judge Crawford cited his extensive ties to his community. He noted that the court had received more than 90 submissions from community members, academic experts and professors who know Mr. Mahdawi, “many of them Jewish,” attesting to his character and consistently describing him as “peaceful.”

The judge also spoke of the “extraordinary circumstances” of Mr. Mahdawi’s detention and the present moment in history.

“This is not the first time that the nation has seen chilling action by the government intended to shut down debate,” Judge Crawford said.

Michael Drescher, the acting U.S. attorney in Vermont, who argued on behalf of the Trump administration, said that immigration officials had solid legal reason to detain Mr. Mahdawi as they considered his deportation case. Mr. Drescher noted that Mr. Mahdawi is not a U.S. citizen and has access to resources that would enable him to leave the country. “His detention is not illegal,” Mr. Drescher said. (NYT)

Another loss for the Trump administration.

Thanks to commenter hylen for the video.