Key Points:

• Columbia University has expelled and suspended multiple students involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
• Two students have been arrested, facing deportation as the Trump administration escalates its crackdown on protests.
• Columbia risks losing $400 million in federal funding due to allegations of failing to combat antisemitism.

Columbia University has recently faced intense scrutiny and backlash following its actions against students involved in pro-Palestinian protests last year. In a series of announcements, the university disclosed that it has expelled or suspended several students involved in occupying Hamilton Hall during demonstrations aimed at advocating for Palestinian rights amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. HuffPost reported that these sanctions were determined by the university's Judicial Board, reflecting an evaluation of the severity of each student's behavior.

Just days into the escalations, immigration officials arrested Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian student from the West Bank, for overstaying her student visa, which had been terminated previously due to lack of attendance since January 2022. Kordia's arrest marks the second such action following the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent activist at Columbia. Khalil's case has drawn significant national attention as it raises pressing issues of free speech and governmental oversight of political activism on campuses. As detailed by Al Jazeera, Khalil was removed to a detention facility in Louisiana, invoking concerns over his treatment and the broader implications of such actions.

Other simultaneous actions by the Trump administration include invoking sanctions that cut $400 million in federal funding from Columbia, citing the university's failures to adequately address antisemitism on campus. In parallel, Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian doctoral student, self-deported after her visa was revoked for allegedly participating in activities perceived as supporting a terrorist organization. The Department of Homeland Security justified the revocation by associating her demonstrations with Hamas involvement, a claim contested by her legal representation as a misinterpretation of her activism in support of Palestinian rights.

These arrests, coupled with the federal government’s urgent letter demanding strict oversight of certain academic departments and proposals for receivership, have drawn criticism from civil rights advocates who perceive a troubling trend toward regulatory overreach that threatens the foundational values of free expression within academic spaces. More than 200 students protested outside Columbia’s campus, calling attention to these rights and advocating for the release of Khalil New York Times.

The university's President has expressed a commitment to addressing these issues while maintaining adherence to federal regulations amidst an atmosphere of escalating tensions surrounding campus discourse on the Israel-Palestine conflict.