- DHS arrests second Columbia student for visa violations dating to 2022
- ICE detains green card holder despite no criminal charges
- Urban planning student self-deports using CBP Home app
- Federal agents search dorm rooms under Trump-era security protocols
- University expels 98 spring protesters amid federal pressure
The Department of Homeland Security escalated its controversial campus operations Thursday night with the arrest of Leqaa Korda, a Palestinian graduate student from the West Bank. This marks the second high-profile detention of a Columbia activist in seven days, following the March 13 apprehension of legal resident Mahmoud Khalil. Immigration experts note these actions coincide with a 38% increase in student visa revocations nationwide since 2023.
Korda’s case reveals complex immigration challenges facing international activists. While DHS alleges her student visa expired in January 2022, university records show continued enrollment through 2024. This discrepancy highlights growing tensions between academic institutions and federal immigration enforcement. A 2025 Urban Education Institute report warns that 1 in 7 international students now face heightened visa scrutiny when participating in campus demonstrations.
The situation grows more complex with Ranjani Srinivasan’s self-deportation via the CBP Home app – a digital tool introduced in 2023 to streamline removals. Immigration attorneys observe this marks the first known use of the app by protest participants. This sets dangerous precedent for dissenting voices,warns ACLU legal director Jamilah Thompson. We’re seeing tech-enabled enforcement reshape campus free speech dynamics.
Thursday night’s dorm searches under federal warrants have sparked fresh First Amendment debates. While no arrests occurred, the presence of armed agents in student housing violates traditional university protocols. Comparative analysis shows similar operations at UCLA in February resulted in 22% drop in international applications – a trend Columbia administrators now desperately seek to reverse.
Legal battles intensify for Mahmoud Khalil, whose detention in Louisiana without formal charges tests green card holder protections. His March 27 immigration hearing could establish precedent for 2.3 million permanent residents. This isn’t about visas – it’s about criminalizing Palestinian solidarity,argues defense attorney Baher Azmy. Recent court filings reveal ICE agents cited Khalil’s social media posts about Gaza as evidence of ideological alignmentwith restricted groups.
Columbia’s simultaneous expulsion of Hamilton Hall occupiers demonstrates institutional attempts to balance safety concerns with academic freedom. However, the American Association of University Professors condemns these actions as disciplinary overreach.Their March 2025 survey shows 67% of faculty believe federal pressure improperly influences campus justice systems.
Regional comparisons reveal stark contrasts. While NYU settled similar protest cases through mediation, UC Berkeley maintained student status for 89% of demonstrators. This West Coast approach preserved international enrollments but drew criticism from congressional oversight committees. The evolving patchwork of campus policies now directly impacts $24 billion in foreign student tuition revenue nationwide.
As Trump Tower protesters demand Khalil’s release, broader questions emerge about activism in the digital age. Homeland Security’s fusion of immigration enforcement and counterterrorism protocols creates new risks for non-citizen demonstrators. With 68% of Columbia’s graduate engineering students holding temporary visas, many now question whether academic freedom applies equally to all voices.
