Key Takeaways:

• Federal immigration officials have arrested Leqaa Kordia for overstaying her visa amid pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University.
• The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has revoked the visa of Ranjani Srinivasan for allegedly supporting terrorism.
• Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent activist involved in protests, is facing deportation after being detained by ICE in a controversial move.

Federal immigration authorities have intensified their crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism at Columbia University. Recently, immigration officers arrested Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian from the West Bank, for allegedly overstaying her student visa. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed that her visa had been terminated in January 2022 due to a lack of attendance. Kordia had previously faced arrest linked to her participation in Columbia protests held in April 2024, according to reports from HuffPost.

In a related development, federal officials revoked the visa of Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian citizen and doctoral student at Columbia University, citing her involvement in activities they allege support a terrorist organization. The DHS announced that Srinivasan used its 'self-deport' option shortly after the revocation of her visa, effectively leaving the country within the mandated 15-day period. The agency has yet to provide concrete evidence of her alleged activities linked to violence, raising concerns among free speech advocates about the potential chilling effects of these actions, as noted by The Hill.

The situation escalated further with the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent activist who was involved in leading protests at Columbia. Khalil's detention drew severe criticism from civil rights advocates, who argue it reflects a broader assault on free speech. His lawyers moved to sue for his release after he was transported from New York to Louisiana in what they described as a distressing experience, where he felt he was being ''kidnapped''. Khalil was subjected to harsh detention conditions, leading to widespread public outcry over his case, as reported by Los Angeles Times.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that further visa revocations and arrests are expected as the Trump administration continues to identify foreign nationals involved in supportive actions for Palestinian rights. The announcement has prompted critics to voice concerns regarding the federal government’s apparent use of immigration enforcement to suppress political dissent on college campuses. Experts fear that these actions may conflate legal protests with terrorism and create an environment hostile to free speech, and Trump's comments have exacerbated fears of an impending crackdown on dissenting voices within academia as positioned by LA Times.

A hearing revealed that Khalil had not been granted time for protected legal communication with his attorneys since his detention, raising serious questions about the legal processes being employed against him. Judge Jesse M. Furman has issued orders ensuring that Khalil’s legal rights are recognized moving forward.