Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers arrested a second student who participated in an anti-Israel protest at Columbia University after a third student chose to deport himself from the United States.
Leqaa Kordia, from the West Bank, canceled her student visa in 2022 “due to lack of attendance” and was detained by an outdated visa institution. The DHS said Cordia had been arrested earlier in April on suspicion of roles in the protest, but the New York Police Department told Fox News Digital that it had no arrest records in their names.
“Columbia does not have a record of this individual registered as a current or former student at the university,” the university said in a statement.
“It's a privilege to be granted a visa to live and study in the United States,” Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem said in a statement.
Protesters protest against detention of Palestinian Columbia University students
The anti-Israel agitator performed the camp on the Columbia University campus. (Getty Images)
“When defending violence and terrorism, that privilege should be revoked and you should not be in this country. I'm happy to see one of the terrorist sympathizers at Columbia University use the CBP Home app for self-promotion.”
Mahmoud Khalil, a recent graduate of New York City-based university, is in ice custody for his role in the protest. However, this led to backlash from students and faculty, attracting the attention of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
The threat of college student and professor's horrific deportation chills speech on campus: Report
Anti-Israel protesters continued their rally outside Columbia University in New York City on April 30, 2024. (RashidUmarAbbasi from Fox News Digital)
“To be clear: The First Amendment does not allow the government to retaliate against anyone for their speech. To tear someone from their homes, strip them of their immigrant status and detain them based on a political perspective is a clear attempt by President Trump to challenge,” the ACLU website said. “And that's patently unconstitutional. Political speeches – which may be controversial, but may not be the basis for punishment, including deportation.”
The Trump White House has drawn nationwide attention for the camp, which has been linked to $400 million in federal funds from Columbia University, where supporters said they were supporting Gaza.
President Donald Trump warned in his true social post that Halil was “the first arrest of many people going forward.”
DHS agents search the room for two students at Columbia University and “heartbreaks” the interim president
Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem will speak to Washington staff on January 28, 2025. (Manuel Barthsenetta/Pool/Getty Images)
“Following my previously signed executive order, Ice proudly arrested and detained Mahmoud Khalil, a radical foreign pro-Hamas student, on the Columbia University campus,” Trump said in the Post.
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According to a new release from DHS, Indian citizen Ranjani Srinivasan returned to March 11 using the new “CBP Home” app after the federal government took over March 5 on March 5.
