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.