US updates: Court orders Palestinian student's release

A US judge has ordered the release of Palestinian student Mohsen Mahdawi who was detained by immigration officials as he attended a citizenship interview. 

Mahdawi, a legal permanent resident for 10 years, has been held for more than two weeks. He was detained in response to his speech advocating for Palestinian human rights.

In other news, US stocks have taken a hit on the back of weak growth data.

Here are the latest developments from the United States on Wednesday, April 4:

04/30/2025April 30, 2025

US stocks slide on poor growth data

The result, sharply below the market consensus estimate of 0.4%, was something of a shockImage: Seth Wenig/AP Photo/picture alliance

Wall Street stocks have opened sharply lower after a weak growth report fueled concerns about an economic slowdown amid uncertainty over US President Donald Trump's trade policy.

About 15 minutes into trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stood at 39,877.96, down 1.6%.

The broad-based S&P 500 dropped 2.0% to 5,449.09, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index fell 2.6% to 17,005.71. 

The gross domestic product decreased at an annual rate of 0.3% in the first quarter, far below analyst expectations of 0.4% growth.

Part of the contraction was due to a surge in imports from businesses seeking to stock up ahead of tariffs. 

Investors will also await key US inflation data later Wednesday to see how these are impacted by tariffs. The results could determine whether the Federal Reserve will cut rates as Trump has vociferously urged.

04/30/2025April 30, 2025

Palestinian student released to challenge deportation

Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi has been released from US immigration custody.

The release came after a judge ruled that he should be allowed to challenge the Trump administration's efforts to deport him over his participation in pro-Palestinian protests.

Mahdawi, born and raised in a refugee camp in the West Bank, was arrested earlier this month when he arrived for an interview for his US citizenship petition.

A judge quickly ordered the Trump administration not to deport him from the United States or move him out of the state of Vermont.

Mahdawi walked out of the federal courthouse in Burlington, Vermont, after two weeks in detention after US District Judge Geoffrey Crawford ordered his release at a court hearing on Wednesday.

"I am not afraid of you," Madhawi said, addressing US President Donald Trump.

Mahdawi has been a legal US permanent resident since 2015. He is co-founder of a Palestinian student group at Columbia along with  Mahmoud Khalil, who Trump has also been trying to deport since he was arrested in March.

"Mohsen has committed no crime, and the government’s only supposed justification for holding him in prison is the content of his speech," Lia Ernst, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union who is representing Mahdawi, said.

04/30/2025April 30, 2025

US growth shrinks unexpectedly

The US Commerce Department says the world's largest economy declined contrary to expectations in the first quarter, according to preliminary data.

The first gross domestic product (GDP) figures for US President Donald  Trump's second term had been highly anticipated, especially after the sweeping tariffs he has implemented since taking office.

GDP dipped at an annual rate of 0.3% in the first quarter, having grown by 2.4% in the final months of 2024. 

The data was far below a market consensus estimate of 0.4% growth.

"The downturn in real GDP in the first quarter reflected an upturn in imports, a deceleration in consumer spending, and a downturn in government spending," the Commerce Department said. 

04/30/2025April 30, 2025

Welcome to our coverage

Welcome to DW's coverage of developments in the United States on Tuesday, April 29, as the investors react to weaker-than-expected growth data for the first quarter.

Gross domestic product has fallen by 0.3%, 0.7%  below the expected moderate growth that had been predicted.

Stock indices took a hit amid the market uncertainty caused by US President Donald Trump's tariffs on trading partners.

Meanwhile, a Palestinian student who immigration officials detained after helping to lead a protest about Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, has been released.

Here are the latest developments from the United States on Wednesday, April 4.