New York: The U.S. Justice Department announced on Friday that it is investigating potential terrorism law violations linked to protests at Columbia University over the Gaza war. The move intensifies federal scrutiny on what was once the focal point of last year’s nationwide anti-Israel demonstrations.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the investigation aligns with President Donald Trump’s broader “mission to end antisemitism in this country,” adding that such a crackdown was “long overdue”.
Civil rights advocates have criticized the probe, arguing that the protesters are exercising their First Amendment rights, which protect free speech and assembly.
This latest development reinforces the Trump administration’s hardline approach toward pro-Palestinian student activism and university policies it claims enable antisemitism to flourish on campuses. Last week, Columbia University had its $400 million in federal funding suspended, and the administration has now set conditions for its reinstatement.
Federal Demands and Campus Searches
A letter from the administration, dated Thursday, outlined several demands that Columbia must meet before discussions on restoring funding can begin. The demands include:
- A formal definition of antisemitism within university policies.
- A ban on masks “intended to conceal identity or intimidate.”
- Placing the university’s Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies departments under “academic receivership,” effectively removing control from faculty.
- Reforms to admissions and international recruitment policies to comply with federal regulations.
The demands were issued just as federal agents searched two dormitory rooms at Columbia’s Manhattan campus. The searches came a week after immigration authorities detained Mahmoud Khalil, the leader of last year’s protests at Columbia, in an effort to deport him. However, his deportation has been temporarily halted by a federal court.
Interim university president Katrina Armstrong confirmed the searches, stating that Department of Homeland Security agents executed federal warrants but did not detain anyone or remove any items. Blanche clarified that the searches were part of a broader probe into whether Columbia University was providing sanctuary to individuals living in the U.S. illegally.
Students have reported an increased presence of federal immigration agents near dormitories and student housing around Columbia’s campus.
Columbia University student workers union rallied in support of Mahmoud Khalil, a leader of last year's anti-Israel campus protests whom the Trump administration seeks to deport https://t.co/nUzsthKXZP pic.twitter.com/N27r6M54p5
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 15, 2025
Columbia’s Response and Disciplinary Actions
Columbia University has defended its stance, asserting that it is actively working to combat antisemitism while also preserving free speech protections. University officials stated they are reviewing the administration’s letter and remain committed to their mission of supporting students and addressing all forms of discrimination.
“We are committed at all times to advancing our mission, supporting our students, and addressing all forms of discrimination and hatred on our campus,” Columbia said in a statement.
In an apparent effort to demonstrate accountability, the university disclosed that it has already taken disciplinary actions against students involved in last spring’s building occupation. Punishments reportedly range from suspensions and expulsions to degree revocations, though the university did not disclose names or numbers.
Broader Crackdown on Universities
Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Education announced investigations into 60 universities accused of fostering a hostile environment for Jewish students. Additionally, the department is scrutinizing 45 schools for allegedly engaging in diversity programs that base eligibility on race, which the administration argues violates the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The student protests at Columbia were part of a larger movement that emerged following Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel and the subsequent U.S.-backed Israeli offensive in Gaza. Demonstrators called for the university to divest from Israeli-affiliated entities and for Washington to halt military assistance to Israel.
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The Trump administration has accused Columbia of failing to adequately address prolonged demonstrations, including an encampment on university grounds and a brief occupation of a campus building.
Divisive Reactions on Campus
As hundreds of Khalil’s supporters rallied at Columbia’s main gate on Friday, students expressed concerns about the federal crackdown.
“The federal government can’t be dictating what and whom a university does and doesn’t teach, like who can and cannot be admitted,” said Demetri, a graduate student who declined to provide his last name.
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With the Justice Department’s investigation underway and the administration tightening its oversight of campus policies, Columbia University finds itself at the center of a heated national debate over free speech, academic independence, and the limits of federal intervention in higher education.
