Columbia University has been in the news over the past few days. As one of the top institutions in the United States, with a student population exceeding 30,000, it has recently faced several significant events. In a major development, US immigration agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student from the School of International and Public Affairs, at his university residence on March 8. Khalil, who holds a US permanent residency (green card), played a prominent role in pro-Palestinian protests on campus. His arrest was part of President Donald Trump’s promised crackdown on anti-Israel activists, according to Reuters. Civil rights groups have condemned his detention, calling it an attack on protected political speech.
Reuters further reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio shared news of Khalil’s arrest on social media, stating, “We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported.” The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also posted on social media that Khalil had “led activities aligned to Hamas” but did not provide further details.
His detention marks one of the first steps in the Trump administration’s effort to deport foreign students involved in the pro-Palestinian protest movement, which the administration has labeled antisemitic.
Trump administration pulls $400 million federal funds from Columbia University
In a separate but related action, the administration announced last week an immediate withdrawal of $400 million in federal funding from Columbia University, citing its failure to combat antisemitism on campus. A joint statement from four federal agencies stated that Columbia had demonstrated “continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students,” as reported by BBC.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon reinforced this stance, stating that Jewish students at Columbia had faced “relentless violence, intimidation, and antisemitic harassment” while the university failed to act. She warned that other institutions would face similar consequences if they did not address such issues.
Columbia University has since responded, stating that it is reviewing the funding withdrawal and pledging to work with the government to restore its financial support, reports BBC.
Meanwhile, tensions escalated further at Barnard College, an affiliate of Columbia University, where four students were arrested last Wednesday for causing a “disruption.” They have since been suspended and banned from campus.
As protests continue and political tensions rise, the crackdown on student activism is expected to spark further debate on free speech, academic freedom, and the role of universities in addressing sensitive geopolitical issues. With both supporters and critics weighing in, the coming weeks could be crucial in shaping the future of student-led movements on US campuses.
