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The Department of Homeland Security has announced another arrest targeting international students involved in last year’s pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University.
Some shit you should know before you read: Last year, massive pro-Palestinian protests erupted at Columbia University, with thousands of students participating in demonstrations over the war in Gaza. While some protests remained peaceful, others escalated into highly disruptive actions, including the occupation of Hamilton Hall, where protesters barricaded themselves inside, vandalized property, and clashed with law enforcement. The unrest led to dozens of arrests, with some students charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct before most charges were later dropped. The protests were also tainted by accusations of antisemitism, with reports of Jewish students being harassed, targeted with slurs, and even physically intimidated.
What’s going on now: In an announcement, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed the arrest of Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian student from the West Bank, for allegedly overstaying her F-1 student visa. Kordia had been involved in last year’s pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University and was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of an escalating federal crackdown on international students linked to the demonstrations.
DHS stated that Kordia’s visa was officially terminated in January 2022 due to lack of attendance, though Columbia University later clarified that it had no record of her ever being an enrolled student. While DHS has not specified whether her arrest was directly related to protest activities, federal officials have repeatedly emphasized their intent to target individuals they claim are supporting terrorism under the guise of activism.
Kordia’s detention follows the high-profile arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia graduate student and legal permanent resident, who was taken into ICE custody days earlier. Khalil, an Algerian citizen married to a US citizen, had been an outspoken participant in the campus protests and served as a lead negotiator during last spring’s encampment. The Trump administration has cited his activism as justification for his arrest, alleging that he was involved in activities that supported Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the agency’s actions, stating, “It is a privilege to be granted a visa to live and study in the United States. When you advocate for violence and terrorism, that privilege should be revoked.” DHS has also revoked the visa of Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian doctoral student at Columbia, accusing her of supporting Hamas.
