ALWAGHT- DHS announces the arrest of a second Columbia University student in pro-Palestinian protests amid a broader crackdown on activists.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained Leqaa Korda, a Palestinian from the West Bank, for allegedly overstaying her visa. Her arrest follows that of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian green card holder, as part of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) broader crackdown on pro-Palestinian activists. DHS also confirmed that Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian doctoral student at Columbia, was deported after her student visa was revoked for alleged ties to Hamas.
The Trump administration has taken a hardline stance against pro-Palestinian activism, with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem labeling Columbia students involved in protests as "terrorist sympathizers." President Trump praised Khalil’s arrest and announced the cancellation of $400 million in federal grants to Columbia University. Legal experts and civil rights activists have raised concerns about the administration’s rhetoric, warning that it conflates advocacy for Palestinian rights with extremism.
Columbia University has been at the center of student-led pro-Palestinian protests, including the April 2024 "Gaza Solidarity Encampment." The demonstrations escalated when protesters occupied Hamilton Hall, demanding university divestment from companies linked to Israel. After failed negotiations, Columbia’s president authorized police intervention, leading to over 100 arrests. Khalil and seven other students have since sued to block the university from handing over disciplinary records to Congress, citing First Amendment and privacy concerns.
