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US Visa Halt: Indian Students Left Scrambling for Options

June 10, 2025, 11:17 am

The US visa halt has disrupted academic plans for Indian students preparing to study in the United States. BBC has conducted multiple interviews with students, and it emerged that many applicants were caught off guard after US embassies paused student visa appointments with little warning.

After many tries, Umar Sofi, a 26-year old aspiring student finally gained admission to Columbia University, and has even resigned from his job, and secured a scholarship, but when the US suspended visas on May 27, he faced uncertainty about starting on time. Students across the country report similar experiences and remain unsure of what to do. He said, “I was numb. I could not process what had happened.” The US visa halt has caused delays at a crucial academic point.

US visa halt prompts application setbacks

As a result, President Donald Trump has directed the US embassies to suspend student visa scheduling and expand applicant vetting, which has consequently led to the US visa halt. Meanwhile, Seventeen-year-old Samita Garg, accepted to a top US university for biochemistry, learned of the pause just days after her admission. “It is scary and stressful,” she told the BBC.
Students now race to meet tight deadlines to secure appointments before the fall semester.

Many have already invested significant resources. Embassy officials have communicated little, leaving confusion to grow. The US visa halt has raised concerns about whether students can travel in time for orientation and classes.

Indian students consider backup destinations

Indian students make up one of the largest international student groups in the United States. However, the US visa halt has pushed many to explore other options, including Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. In an interview with the BBC, numerous students hesitated to go public, fearing it might affect future visa decisions.

For now, this halt has caused lots of delays in outcomes for thousands of students in India and other countries, forcing many to entirely reconsider their academic and travel plans.

Trump Administration Accuses Columbia University of Civil Rights Violations Against Jewish Students

May 23, 2025, 1:45 pm

In the midst of a growing feud with top-tier academic institutions, the Donald Trump administration on Thursday charged Columbia University with not doing enough to defend Jewish students from campus harassment and thus infringing on their civil rights.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights determined that Columbia had acted “with deliberate indifference” to allegations of mistreatment of Jewish students, CNN reported. The department ruled that the university had violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in federally assisted programs.

While the Trump administration has already blamed Columbia for accommodating antisemitic policies in the past, it did not declare any fresh punitive measures after Thursday’s report.

Responding to the accusations, a Columbia University representative said to The New York Times, “We recognize this finding is part of our continuing conversations with the government. Columbia is strongly dedicated to fighting antisemitism and all types of harassment and discrimination on our campus.” The university reiterated that it had a determination to keep cooperating with federal officials to resolve the situation.

The move follows similar actions by President Trump months ago that cut funding worth about $400 million in federal grants and aid to Columbia because of the school’s supposed inability to safeguard Jewish students during protests on campus that criticized Israel’s military response in Gaza. The administration threatened to follow through with the cuts with additional reductions of $5 billion in future federal obligations.

Under increasing pressure, Columbia subsequently acquiesced to a number of the administration’s demands, including the implementation of a prohibition on the use of masks in protest and enhanced powers for campus police. In explanation, the university justified its actions, stating, “Freedom of expression is what enables the rigorous debate and free inquiry on which our academic mission depends.”. But protests and other forms of protest that happen within the boundaries of academic buildings and areas where academics do their work pose a direct obstacle to upholding our central academic purpose.

Columbia is not alone in facing federal scrutiny. Various elite universities have been in the crosshairs of the Trump administration since he was sworn in last January.

In a related but distinct move, President Trump on Thursday barred Harvard University from admitting international students, stripping it of its certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. The action directly affects a major source of revenue for many U.S. institutions, particularly Ivy League universities.

Trump’s Homeland Security Adviser, Kristi Noem, supported the administration’s hard line during an appearance on Fox News. Asked if this kind of policy was being considered for other universities, including Columbia, she replied, “Absolutely, we are. This should be a warning to every other university to get your act together.”

Figures from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) indicate that foreign students made up 39% of Columbia University’s overall enrollment in 2023, highlighting the likely financial costs of such federal action.

Chinese Beauty Queen Jailed for 8 Months Over Fake Columbia University Degree

May 18, 2025, 1:53 pm

Li Sixuan, 28, a Chinese beauty queen and winner of the 2024 Miss Universe Shenzhen title, has been sentenced to 240 days in jail after she pleaded guilty to the use of forged academic qualifications to secure a place at the University of Hong Kong (HKU).

As reported by local news site hk01, Li admitted to two charges: gaining services by deception and having a false instrument. She provided forged records purporting that she had graduated with a linguistics degree from Columbia University in New York. With those records, she was accepted into HKU’s Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics course in 2022.

Her fraud went beyond admission. She also had a forged HKU graduation certificate stating that she had graduated with ‘distinction’. In fact, university documents indicated that she had only passed.

Li said she paid an agent 380,000 yuan (about HK$410,000) to help her get a place at university. She acknowledged graduating from Wuhan College, which is under Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, in 2020 and admitted that she had only done an online Columbia course.

HKU launched its investigation in March 2023, when it spotted discrepancies in some applications that were reportedly submitted by mainland education agents. Columbia University subsequently confirmed through an email that Li was never enrolled with them.

Following HKU’s request for clarification and attempt to meet her, Li declined and made an attempt to escape to mainland China. She was stopped at one of the border checkpoints and was arrested.

Her sentencing took place on May 8 at Shatin Magistrates’ Courts. Magistrate Cheang Kei-hong noted that Li’s conduct was ‘consistently dishonest’ and that she maintained the deception even after enrolling at HKU. She was originally sentenced to 300 days in jail, but her term was reduced to 240 days due to a plea deal.

Chaos at Columbia University: Pro-Palestinian Protesters Storm Butler Library | Watch

May 8, 2025, 1:52 pm

During the evening of Wednesday, Columbia University found itself at the center of new protests when some pro-Palestinian protesters invaded the university’s Butler Library. This action followed the nationwide student movement that started last year with calls for an end to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

The protestors moved through the library, and tensions grew while the situation got out of hand, leading authorities to request the New York Police Department (NYPD) to bring in reinforcements.

Protests Intensify at Columbia University

The protests that erupted at Columbia University were reflective of those that had occurred in different parts of the United States during the last year, with students clamoring for a stand to be taken against the violence in Gaza. Consequently, the university, already in the news for its reaction to similar protests, witnessed considerable intensification of unrest on its campus.

NOW: Violent Clashes as Police arrest and push against Pro-Palestine protesters as hundreds march through streets outside Columbia University pic.twitter.com/uGwDi7KBhp

— Oliya Scootercaster ? (@ScooterCasterNY) May 8, 2025

These tensions were added to by the actions of the Trump administration, which had previously condemned Columbia University for failing to adequately suppress protests, leading to the withholding of funds from the university.

Video at the scene captured protestors being taken into custody by the NYPD, with several people being observed with their hands behind their backs in zip ties. An NYPD spokesperson reports that “Multiple individuals who failed to comply with verbal direction by the NYPD to disperse were apprehended.” The number of arrests has not yet been released.

A Broader Political Backdrop

This recent wave of demonstrations has rekindled long-standing political tensions at the university. The unrest comes on the heels of a spate of criticism over Columbia University’s response to similar protests over the past year. In the meantime, tensions at the university have spilled out of the library and onto other areas of the campus, further fueling the explosive atmosphere.

A Break in the Protests: DOJ’s Announcement of Hate Crime Charges

During the chaos, one major development was when the Department of Justice (DOJ) charged 20-year-old Tarek Bazrouk with federal hate crimes. The charges resulted from attacks against Jewish people, especially during protests last year in the area surrounding Columbia University. This indictment brings to light the tension regarding the campus protests and the growing worry about intensifying violence.

Columbia University’s recent protests are a grim reminder of the thin line between free speech and campus civil unrest. As the campus becomes more polarized along political lines, it is to be seen how the institution will navigate its role in promoting academic freedom in the face of rising tensions.

Why ICE Transfers Student Protesters to Remote Detention Centers

April 11, 2025, 1:13 pm

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has faced criticism for sending immigrant students and scholars who were arrested at pro-Palestine demonstrations thousands of miles from where they were arrested to detention facilities. In several reports, ICE relocated detainees from Northeast cities to far-flung centers in Louisiana and Texas, raising concerns about the transfers of the agency and the availability of legal assistance to the detainees.

Students Moved Far from Legal and Family Support

On March 8, ICE agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at Columbia University, at his home in New York. Khalil was in a detention center outside of rural Louisiana, more than three hours from the closest city, the following evening.

Georgetown University professor Badar Khan Suri was arrested close to Washington, DC, and initially shipped to Louisiana, then transferred to a jail complex in Texas. Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk was arrested outside of Boston and deported to a for-profit prison in southern Louisiana within 24 hours of being detained.

These far-flung transfers highlight ICE’s control over the placement of detainees. Immigration attorneys and activists have sounded the alarm, noting how moving people far from their lawyers, loved ones, and social support networks effectively cripples their capacity to contest immigration cases.

ICE Cites Logistical Reasons, Critics See Rights Violations

ICE has justified the transfers as practical necessities. Detention, its website says, is intended to “secure [immigrants’] presence for immigration proceedings or removal from the United States” and emphasizes the system is “non-punitive.”

Attorneys for the government argued in court documents that ICE transferred Ozturk, Suri, and Khalil because detention space was in short supply where they were arrested initially.

Yet civil rights organizations have called some of these Southern detention facilities “black holes” due to deplorable conditions and restricted communication with the outside world. At least 14 of the 20 largest immigration detention facilities in the country are located in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi, NPR reports.

Adriel D. Orozco, the American Immigration Council’s senior policy counsel, said these transfers are technically done within the immigration system. But he added, “I haven’t seen this kind of drastic transfer system, in the sense of sending folks from the Northeast down to the South.”

“It does feel more of a change under this Trump 2.0,” Orozco said to CNN.

Columbia University Hires 36 NYPD-Appointed Officers After Campus Protests

April 6, 2025, 11:18 am

Following recent student protests, Columbia University appointed 36 new special patrol officers. These appointments came after a series of incidents involving pro-Palestinian protesters, including an unauthorized tent setup and a barricade inside an academic building.

NYPD Commissioner Approves the Appointments

As a result, the university turned to the New York Police Department. Columbia requested peace officers from the NYPD commissioner last year to help manage campus security.

Consequently, the commissioner approved the appointments. These officers will now operate under the NYPD’s authority.

Officers Gain Full Police Powers

According to Columbia spokesperson Samantha Slater, the officers went through the NYPD’s application process. They qualified under New York State’s Peace Officers law.

This law allows individuals or institutions to request NYPD appointments for their employees. Once appointed, they receive full powers of arrest and can use physical force like regular police officers.

“Columbia has individuals that meet the other requirements in the law such as a lengthy training program and have gone through the NYPD’s application process,” said Slater.

Officers Must Follow Police Rules

Moreover, Slater said the officers must obey NYPD rules and follow the police commissioner’s orders. New York City’s administrative code outlines these requirements. The officers must conform to the NYPD’s discipline and chain of command.

Columbia Pays for Training and Salaries

Under city law, Columbia funds the officers’ training and salaries. However, the university clarified that these officers remain Columbia employees. They are not on NYPD payroll, even though they have the same responsibilities and powers as NYPD patrol officers.

Furthermore, the officers must report any summonses they issue. They must also take anyone they arrest to the local NYPD precinct.

Arrests Handled Through Campus Office

Initially, arrests will be processed at a Columbia campus office, located about 20 blocks from the main Manhattan campus. Afterward, the detainees will be transferred to the precinct.

Columbia Clarifies Their Role

Following media reports, Slater clarified the officers’ employment status. She emphasized that Columbia hires, selects, and funds these officers. Though appointed by the NYPD, they are not NYPD officers.

Officers Will Patrol Private Campus Areas

In addition, an NYPD spokesperson confirmed that the officers will be unarmed. According to Columbia, each officer must complete 162 hours of state-certified training before being sworn in by the commissioner.

Once sworn in, they will patrol Columbia’s privately owned buildings, plazas, and lawns. These areas are typically off-limits to regular NYPD officers unless called in.

Indian Student Deported from US Calls Columbia University’s Silence a ‘Betrayal’

March 28, 2025, 5:44 pm

Indian PhD student Ranjini Srinivasan, 37, has finally spoken out after self-deporting to Canada after the US student visa she had was revoked over claims that she was a Hamas supporter, a terror group that has offices in Gaza. Srinivasan, a Fulbright scholar at Columbia University, was on the cusp of finishing her PhD in public planning before the sudden cancellation of her visa.

Visa Revoked, Flight to Canada

Srinivasan heard of her visa revocation for the first time on March 5 by way of an email from the US Consulate in Chennai. Only hours after that, officers of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) knocked on her door, in all likelihood to take her into custody for deportation. She did not open the door. On the next day, ICE officers came knocking when she was out, interrogating her roommate as to where she was.

The incident became more complicated when another Columbia student, Mahmoud Khalil, was arrested on campus, causing disturbances among the students. Panicked that she would be arrested, Srinivasan took flight, grabbing only a bag containing her necessary documents and possessions. On March 11, after escaping from US officials, she made a flight out of New York’s LaGuardia Airport to Canada, where she found sanctuary among relatives and friends. CCTV footage of her at the airport, dragging her bag, went viral on social media.

Betrayed by Columbia University

Having spent five years at Columbia University working diligently on her PhD, Srinivasan feels let down by the institution. In an interview with Al Jazeera, she said:

“I spent five years at Columbia University, working, I don’t know, maybe 100 hours a week sometimes. I never expected the institution to let me down. But it did.” Srinivasan has officially appealed to Columbia University for reinstatement, claiming that she has fulfilled all academic requirements required to obtain her PhD.

“All the requirements for my PhD are complete, and whatever is left, I don’t even need to be in the US for it. So, I’m trying to appeal to Columbia,” she continued. To date, Columbia University has not released any official remark on her situation.

Allegations and Inadequate Public Evidence

US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called Srinivasan a “terrorist sympathizer” on X (formerly Twitter) just four days after her escape. Yet, no public evidence has been offered to support the charges against her. It is not known whether she was targeted because of her political opinions on the Israel-Palestine issue or whether there were tangible actions that prompted the charges.

“I’m worried that even the most low-level political rhetoric or just simply doing what we all do—shout into the void of social media—can become this dystopian nightmare, where someone is labeling you a terrorist sympathizer and causing you to fear for your life and safety,” Srinivasan explained.

Life in Limbo

Now in Canada, Srinivasan’s future is uncertain. Her career as an academic hangs in the balance, and she is left in legal limbo pending a reply from Columbia University. Her case has fueled discussions on freedom of speech, academic freedom, and how far universities go to protect students persecuted on political grounds.

As the scandal unfolds, the most important questions are yet to be answered: Will Columbia University reinstate her? Was she singled out solely for her opinions, or is there unknown evidence against her? Until formal explanations are heard, Ranjini Srinivasan lives in exile, waiting for justice and the end of her educational journey.

Why is Columbia Student Yunseo Chung Suing Trump? Here’s the Full Story

March 25, 2025, 3:45 pm

Yunseo Chung, a 21-year-old student at Columbia University, has sued the Trump administration, charging that officials tried to deport her even though she is a lawful permanent resident. Chung, born in South Korea, has lived in the United States legally since childhood and was granted permanent resident status in 2021. Her lawsuit accuses the administration of targeting her because she took part in pro-Palestinian campus protests.

Deportation Attempt of Yunseo Chung and Legal Challenge

Lawyers of Yunseo Chung submitted a complaint on Monday, denouncing the administration’s move as a “shocking overreach” and an “unprecedented and unjustifiable assault” on her rights. As per the suit, the Donald Trump administration’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers executed an administrative arrest warrant against Yunseo Chung merely a few days following her March 5 arrest for participating in a campus protest. Officials went as far as raiding her parents’ home and Columbia University dormitory as a means to apprehend her.

An ICE official reportedly informed her lawyer that she was being de-naturalized, although only an immigration judge has the right to do so. Chung is now seeking the court to enjoin her detention, removal outside New York City, or removal from the United States.

Who is Yunseo Chung?

Chung is a junior at Columbia University and has been active in pro-Palestinian demonstrations since 2023. She immigrated to the U.S. at the age of seven with her family and has maintained legal residency for over a decade. According to her complaint, the government is retaliating against her for her political beliefs and protest activities.

This has nothing to do with national security. This is about suppressing dissent,” her lawyers said in court documents.

Details of the Lawsuit

Filed on Monday, Chung’s suit lists Trump, Senator Marco Rubio, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, and other government officials as defendants. The suit alleges that Rubio directly ordered Chung’s legal status to be revoked. Interestingly enough, both Trump and Rubio have publicly advocated deporting noncitizens who engage in pro-Palestinian rallies.

The complaint asserts: “ICE’s outrageous conduct against Chung is part of a broader pattern of attempted U.S. government suppression of constitutionally protected protest and other speech.”

It also alleges that the government is trying to “retaliate against and punish noncitizens” for criticizing Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and American policies favorable to Israel.

“Ms. Chung is challenging (the government’s) pattern and practice of targeting individuals who are linked to protests for Palestinian rights for immigration enforcement in retaliation for their core protected political speech,” the complaint says.

Other Cases of Deportation Attempts

Chung is not alone among students threatened with deportation for pro-Palestinian activism. Other cases include:

Mahmoud Khalil: A Palestinian rights activist who coordinated demonstrations at Columbia University was arrested last month. Immigration officials said they were acting on an order to revoke his green card. Khalil is still being held in Louisiana.

Ranjani Srinivasan: A graduate student from India at Columbia University escaped to Canada after her student visa was revoked by the Department of Homeland Security. DHS charged her with being a Hamas supporter but had no evidence.

Badar Khan Suri: An Indian student at Georgetown University was arrested last week on charges of distributing Hamas propaganda. His lawyers claim that the arrest is political because his wife is an American citizen of Palestinian origin.

Escalating Fear Among Foreign Students

The recent spate of deportation efforts has also alarmed international students and human rights activists. Some U.S. embassies in Europe have issued alerts to potential travelers. A message from the U.S. embassy in Estonia states:

“When you come into the United States and you have a visa, you are a guest. But if you have come into the country to proselytize for Hamas, to proselytize terrorist groups, to engage in vandalism, to engage in acts of rebellion and riots on campuses, we never would admit you if we had known that. You lied to us. You’re out.”

Chung’s lawsuit against the Trump administration underscores a wider controversy over the rights of noncitizens to participate in political protests. Her case, as it goes to trial, has already raised alarms about the possibility of government overreach and the stifling of free speech. Legal analysts argue that the case has the potential to establish an important precedent for how immigrant activists are treated in the United States.

As events unfold, international students and activist groups stay on guard worrying that more can be deported for voicing political opinions.

Power Play! Columbia University Gives In To Trump’s Demands After Losing $400M

March 22, 2025, 6:58 am

Columbia University has announced significant policy changes, including a mask ban and enhanced campus security measures, in response to the Trump administration’s decision to freeze $400 million in federal funding.

Stricter Protest Regulations and Security Measures

In an official statement, the university emphasized the importance of free expression while maintaining academic integrity. It declared that protests inside academic buildings would no longer be permitted, and students would be prohibited from wearing masks to conceal their identity, except for health or religious reasons.

To enforce these new regulations, Columbia is deploying a 36-member internal security team with the authority to remove or arrest individuals on campus.

Reevaluating Regional Studies Programs

Interim President Katrina Armstrong announced that the university would conduct a comprehensive review of its regional studies programs, beginning with Middle Eastern studies. Additionally, Columbia plans to introduce new faculty appointments to its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies and expand its Tel Aviv Center in Israel.

Federal Funding and Government Influence

These changes come after the Trump administration ordered funding cuts earlier this month, citing allegations of antisemitism linked to pro-Palestinian protests on campus. While the White House labeled these protests as antisemitic, many participants have denied this characterization. Columbia’s new policies aim to address government concerns and restore federal funding.

US Justice Department Investigates Columbia University Over Immigration Violations

March 16, 2025, 11:46 am

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) is investigating Columbia University for allegedly hiding undocumented immigrants. A DoJ official confirmed this to the Associated Press on Friday. Notably, this probe comes as the Trump administration intensifies efforts to deport foreigners linked to last year’s pro-Palestinian protests.

Federal Agents Search Columbia Residences

Earlier this week, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents executed a search warrant at two university residences. However, they did not make any arrests at the time. Authorities did not reveal whom they were targeting. Nevertheless, on Friday, federal officials announced the arrest of two people involved in the demonstrations.

Meanwhile, a Columbia doctoral student from India fled the U.S. after the Trump administration revoked his visa. Similarly, in another case, immigration officials in Newark, New Jersey, arrested a Palestinian woman who had protested at Columbia last April. They accused her of overstaying her visa.

Justice Department Comments on the Case

Speaking at the Justice Department, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche linked the arrests to Trump’s fight against antisemitism. However, he did not provide specific evidence of Columbia’s alleged wrongdoing.

“Just last night, we worked with the Department of Homeland Security to execute search warrants as part of an investigation into Columbia University for harboring and concealing illegal aliens on its campus,” Blanche said on Friday.

Furthermore, he stated that officials were also investigating potential civil rights violations and terrorism-related crimes. Yet, he did not clarify whether these allegations were directed at the university itself or at protestors.

Columbia University Responds

Following the arrests, Columbia’s interim President Katrina Armstrong assured the university community that Columbia follows the law.

“I understand the immense stress our community is under,” Armstrong wrote in a statement. “Despite the unprecedented challenges, Columbia University will remain a place where the pursuit of knowledge is cherished and fiercely protected, where the rule of law and due process is respected and never taken for granted, and where all members of our community are valued and able to thrive.”

Additionally, she described the presence of federal agents on campus as “heartbreaking.”

Trump Administration Increases Pressure on Columbia

Recently, the Trump administration has intensified pressure on Columbia. Last month, the federal government revoked $400 million in grants and contracts, mostly for medical research. Consequently, many saw this move as punishment for the university’s handling of anti-Israel protests last spring.

Moreover, Trump and his officials have accused the demonstrators of supporting Hamas, arguing that the protests were tied to the ongoing Gaza conflict.

In addition to funding cuts, the administration has also threatened to withdraw Columbia’s federal support permanently. Specifically, officials have demanded several changes, including revising the admissions process and placing the Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies Department under government oversight for five years.

Furthermore, they want the university to ban masks on campus, change how it recruits international students, adopt a new definition of antisemitism, and dismantle its student disciplinary system.

Columbia Student Arrested As Trump Cracks Down On Pro-Palestinian Activists

March 10, 2025, 3:22 am

A Palestinian graduate student at Columbia University, Mahmoud Khalil, was arrested by US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents at his university dormitory on Saturday, the Student Workers of Columbia union said. Khalil is a student at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs and was a central figure in last year’s pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus.

Khalil was a chief negotiator between student protesters and Columbia administrators, especially after demonstrators have occupied an academic building and established a tent encampment in April 2023. Even if he did not participate in the occupation, he also served as a facilitator for dialogue between protest leaders and school officials.

The arrest seems to be among the earliest moves by the administration of President Donald Trump upon his recent reelection, in following through on a promise to remove foreign students from pro-Palestinian protests from the United States. The pro-Palestinian protests, provoked by the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 and consequent Israeli defense forces action on Gaza, also caused disturbance at various US universities.

Though he is a legal resident of the US and married to a citizen, Khalil spent the weekend in detention. His wife refused comment, and Columbia University said it couldn’t lawfully release details of individual students.

The Trump administration, DHS, and the State Department also did not reply to requests for comments explaining the charges against Khalil. The day before his arrest, hours earlier, Khalil had complained to Reuters that he was being harassed by the government for talking to the press.

Trump Cuts $400M in Federal Grants to Columbia Over Anti-Semitism

March 8, 2025, 3:25 am

Washington: The Trump administration announced on Friday the immediate cancellation of approximately $400 million in federal grants to Columbia University. The move comes after accusations that the institution failed to protect Jewish students from anti-Semitic harassment following anti-Israel protests.

Four government agencies, including the US General Services Administration, confirmed the decision, calling it the “first round of action,” with further cuts anticipated.

Trump’s Stand Against ‘Illegal Protests’

Earlier this week, former President Donald Trump vowed to cut funding for schools that allowed what he called “illegal protests.” The statement was seen as a broader crackdown on universities accused of permitting anti-Israel demonstrations that allegedly incited anti-Semitic behavior.

Columbia University, among several US campuses that witnessed large-scale student protests against Israel’s war in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 attacks, has been under scrutiny for its handling of these demonstrations.

Government’s Justification for the Cuts

Education Secretary Linda McMahon defended the funding cut, stating:
“Since October 7, Jewish students have faced relentless violence, intimidation, and anti-Semitic harassment on their campuses—only to be ignored by those who are supposed to protect them.”

She emphasized that universities must comply with federal anti-discrimination laws to continue receiving funding and accused Columbia of failing to uphold that responsibility.

Future of Columbia’s Federal Support

The Trump administration has warned that additional funding revocations may follow unless universities take stronger action to prevent anti-Semitic incidents on their campuses.

Columbia University has not yet responded to the decision. However, the move raises concerns over the future of federal funding for other educational institutions facing similar allegations.