Division of Homeland Safety brokers searched two dorm rooms at Columbia College Thursday evening, the college mentioned, a transfer that comes lower than every week after the federal arrest of former grad scholar Mahmoud Khalil.
“I am writing heartbroken to inform you that we had federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in two University residences tonight,” interim Columbia President Katrina Armstrong mentioned in a press release to the college.
“No one was arrested or detained. No items were removed, and no further action was taken,” she added.
Armstrong mentioned the federal brokers had two judicial search warrants signed by a federal Justice of the Peace choose that legally allowed them in nonpublic areas of the college.
Because of the warrants, she added, the college was “obligated to comply with the law” however College Public Security was “present at all times.”
The Hill has reached out to DHS for remark.
On Saturday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested and moved to deport Khalil, a authorized immigrant, over his participation in final 12 months’s pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus.
ICE is at the moment holding Khalil, a inexperienced card holder, in Louisiana as his legal professionals argue for the case to be overseen by a New York courtroom.
His arrest has led to protest and outcry from many on the faculty, and First Modification specialists have questions the constitutionality of the detention.
Federal officers, together with President Trump, mentioned Khalil’s arrest was just the start of deporting international college students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests.
“Columbia continues to make every effort to ensure that our campus, students, faculty, and staff are safe. Columbia is committed to upholding the law, and we expect city, state, and federal agencies to do the same,” Armstrong mentioned.
“I understand the immense stress our community is under. Despite the unprecedented challenges, Columbia University will remain a place where the pursuit of knowledge is cherished and fiercely protected, where the rule of law and due process is respected and never taken for granted, and where all members of our community are valued and able to thrive,” she added.
The information comes because the Trump administration outlined an inventory of modifications it needs to see Columbia make to its insurance policies to even start talks about restoring the $400 million in federal funding it took from the college resulting from what it known as inaction on antisemitism.
