The Trump administration has arrested a pro-Palestinian activist who helped organize protests against Israel at Columbia University. Reactions on Columbia University’s campus in New York are mixed.
The arrest and possible deportation of student and activist Mahmoud Khalil has sparked debates at Columbia University.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed his arrest on Saturday, under charges of leading “activities linked to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.”
The Trump administration defended the measure, stating that it was implemented based on an executive order that prohibits anti-Semitism and is necessary to protect Jewish students and ensure safety on campus.
Reactions on campus are mixed.
“I’m actually an international student from Israel. When I first arrived, I was concerned about how I would be treated as an Israeli and a Jewish student. I think this is the first step the government is taking to tell Columbia University that this must stop,” says student Michael Domb.
“I think this creates a lot of insecurity and a kind of fear for the university. People are worried about what they write in emails, what they study, even the discussions taking place in classes. People are thinking twice before they speak,” says student Bardia Rahmani.
Supporters argue that the Trump administration’s actions are necessary to address rising concerns about anti-Semitism and to guarantee the safety of all students.
“I certainly welcome and am grateful for the actions of the Trump administration. After more than a year of harassment and continued violence on campuses and city streets, finally, the administration is acting, respecting the law, and making it very clear that foreign nationals who support terrorism and promote terrorist activities have no place in the United States,” says Liel Leibovit from the Hudson Institute.
Not everyone agrees. Recent protests at Columbia University reflect growing concerns that the administration’s measures may violate fundamental rights and freedoms.
“I think the suppression of dissenting voices regarding the war in Gaza and Israel’s policies, in the name of safeguarding security for Jews, is deeply wrong and is being used as a tool to suppress our voices more broadly,” says Fordham University professor Barat Ellman.
“Our message to the Trump administration is that we will not be silenced. The First Amendment is still alive. Permanent residents, like other Americans, enjoy the right to freedom of speech. They cannot be arrested and deported because they have expressed their views that the president disagrees with,” says Donna Lieberman from the New York Civil Liberties Union.
Meanwhile, some political leaders strongly support the administration’s stance on campus security.
“If you are in America on a student visa with ambitions to become a new terrorist who wants to harm your Jewish classmates, you will be sent home. I think the American people understand this and support it,” says Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
As legal challenges continue, the final outcome of this case could set a precedent for how universities and the government balance campus security with the protection of free speech and academic freedom.
