CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The future of one of the 27 arrested during May 4th’s pro-Palestinian protest at UVA is in limbo after being denied access to Grounds.

Most of the post-arrest no trespass orders issued have been lifted or modified but not for Mustafa Abdelhamid, a Middle Eastern immigrant and asylum seeker. The nursing student at Piedmont Virginia Community College was scheduled to begin an externship at UVA Medical Center on May 28, 2024.

Abdelhamid, who has no criminal record and was granted political asylum in 2023, says he was conducting a Door Dash delivery to the Rotunda when he became caught up in the melee between protesters and police. The 35-year-old earned a medical degree from his home country and hopes to eventually complete a medical residency and obtain a medical doctorate in the U.S. But on Friday, he received a letter from UVA Health stating that his externship has been rescinded. He now plans to file a lawsuit against the university, claiming he was unfairly targeted because of his race.

More than 800 people have signed a petition in which they ask UVA President Jim Ryan, Police Chief Tim Longo and two other university officials to remove the restriction completely. So far neither President Ryan nor Chief Longo have responded to media inquiries.