Key points
- Columbia University has suspended or expelled multiple students
- Justice Department examining if protests violated terrorism laws
- Department of Homeland Security arrests a second student
ISLAMABAD: Columbia University and the US Department of Homeland Security are continuing their crackdowns on pro-Palestinian student protesters.
The university suspended or expelled multiple students, and the Justice Department says it is now examining if protests violated terrorism laws, according to Aljazeera English.
Anti-war protesters are being labelled as “anti-Semitic” and “terrorist sympathisers” to silence voices advocating peace.
Violations of terrorism laws
According to Reuters, the US Justice Department said on Friday it was looking into what it said were possible violations of terrorism laws during protests over the Gaza war at Columbia University, putting fresh pressure on the epicentre of last year’s nationwide anti-Israel activism.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the investigation was part of President Donald Trump’s “mission to end antisemitism in this country,” calling it a pushback that was “long overdue”, according to Reuters.
Another arrest
According to ABC News, the Department of Homeland Security has arrested a second student who was involved with Columbia University protests, the agency announced.
Leqaa Korda was arrested by agents from Homeland Security Investigations for allegedly overstaying her expired visa — which terminated on January 26, 2022. She was also allegedly arrested in 2024 for her involvement in the protests, according to DHS.
Korda is a Palestinian from the West Bank, according to DHS.
The arrest comes nearly a week after plain-clothed Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder who was also involved in the protests at Columbia University.
The agency said another student involved in the protests — Ranjani Srinivasan, an urban planning student at Columbia and Indian citizen — used the CBP Home app to self-deport.
It is a privilege to be granted a visa to live & study in the United States of America.
When you advocate for violence and terrorism that privilege should be revoked and you should not be in this country.
I’m glad to see one of the Columbia University terrorist sympathizers… pic.twitter.com/YTYXJgYFcp
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) March 14, 2025
“It is a privilege to be granted a visa to live and study in the United States of America,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said. “When you advocate for violence and terrorism that privilege should be revoked, and you should not be in this country. I am glad to see one of the Columbia University terrorist sympathizers use the CBP Home app to self-deport.”
