 "Will international students at US universities now face deportation for protesting?")
Donald Trump is taking decisive steps against what he and his team perceive as rising anti-Semitism and unchecked political activism on university campuses across the United States.
The Trump administration announced the withdrawal of around $400 million in federal funding from Columbia University, citing the institution’s alleged failure to curb harassment faced by Jewish students.
The US Education Department, along with the Justice Department, Health and Human Services Department, and the US General Services Administration, formed a Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism.
The task force concluded that Columbia University did not do enough to protect Jewish students from hostility following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and subsequent pro-Palestinian protests.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon, while defending the funding cut, said in a statement, “Since October 7, Jewish students have faced relentless violence, intimidation, and anti-Semitic harassment on their campuses — only to be ignored by those who are supposed to protect them.”
She added that institutions failing to comply with federal anti-discrimination laws would not be eligible for government funding.
Columbia University expressed concern over the impact of the funding cut and pledged to work with federal authorities to restore the financial assistance.
Interim president Katrina Armstrong stated, “…announcement will undoubtedly create anxiety and concern for our entire community. But it is during periods like this that our collective dedication to this institution and our mission takes on critical importance.”
How Trump has cracked down on protests
The funding cut coincides with President Donald Trump’s broader crackdown on campus protests, particularly those opposing Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that federal funding would be terminated for any educational institution allowing “illegal protests.” He further warned that “agitators” involved in protests could face arrest, expulsion, or deportation depending on the severity of their actions.
“All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests,” Trump declared.
The US president also signed a series of executive orders targeting alleged anti-Semitism on campuses, including a directive allowing the deportation of foreign students participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
US Ambassador to the United Nations, Elise Stefanik, reinforced Trump’s position, stating, “Anti-Semitism and anti-Israel hate will not be tolerated on American campuses.”
Under President @realDonaldTrump, colleges and universities will be held accountable. Antisemitism and anti-Israel hate will not be tolerated on American campuses. Promises made, promises kept. @POTUS @realDonaldTrump @WhiteHouse pic.twitter.com/1Wc96Gp4n5
— Rep. Elise Stefanik (@RepStefanik) March 4, 2025
This has led to fears among international students about the possible consequences of engaging in political activism.
It was also reported last week that the US State Department will use artificial intelligence to revoke visas of foreign students who it perceives as supporters of Palestinian Hamas militants.
The US Department of Justice has also launched an investigation into the University of California system over potential antisemitic discrimination following campus demonstrations.
“This Department of Justice will always defend Jewish Americans, protect civil rights, and leverage our resources to eradicate institutional Antisemitism in our nation’s universities,” read a statement by US Attorney General Pam Bondi.
It has also been reported that a Chinese national’s visa has been revoked for organising pro-Palestine rallies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The student named Liu Lijun was arrested in May 2024.
Arrest of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil
In what many see as an example of the administration’s tough stance, federal immigration authorities arrested Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil , a former Columbia University student who had actively led pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
According to his attorney, ICE agents entered Khalil’s university-owned apartment and took him into custody, citing an order from the State Department to revoke his green card.
In a post on X, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio linked to an AP news report on Khalil’s arrest, and wrote: “We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported.”
We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported https://t.co/oKba2Mmi3C
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) March 9, 2025
Although Khalil had graduated in December and held permanent residency in the US, the authorities insisted on revoking his green card. His attorney, Amy Greer, told AP, “This is a clear escalation. The administration is following through on its threats.”
Khalil’s wife, who is eight months pregnant, expressed shock over his arrest and stated that the family has been left in the dark regarding his detention, reported AP. Khalil has since been transferred to an immigration detention center in New Jersey, and no formal charges have been announced yet.
Trump’s impact on university research
The crackdown has not only impacted student activism but also university funding. The Trump administration has targeted federal research grants and university endowments. Columbia University, which receives approximately $1.3 billion annually in federal research funding, now faces potential losses amounting to $200 million.
The University of Pennsylvania has also been asked to scale down its PhD programmes in response to expected funding cuts, reported The New York Times. Several departments have already reduced their incoming graduate student cohorts by up to 65 percent.
Stanford University and North Carolina State University have also implemented hiring freezes, anticipating further financial cuts.
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The Trump administration’s policy has also drawn criticism from university leaders. Penn’s interim president, J. Larry Jameson, issued a statement warning that “cuts of this magnitude represent an existential threat across our university and American higher education.” However, the administration continues to assert that federal funding should not be used to support institutions that allow anti-Israel or anti-Semitic protests.
As of now, the administration is considering extending funding cuts to other Ivy League institutions that fail to take strong action against pro-Palestinian protests, with officials asserting that any sign of tolerance towards such protests may result in loss of federal support.
The message from the Trump administration is clear: international students and American students alike are expected to avoid political activism, especially regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict, if they wish to remain enrolled or funded.
With inputs from agencies
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