Dear Friend,
After DHS raids on Columbia University last night, I am afraid the situation continues to worsen. Read below about that raid and additional actions taken against pro-Palestinian student activists, including the “temporary revoking” of diplomas. I am equally confused about what that means.
I also want to flag for you an article that Jim wrote about the case of individuals being targeted for deportation because of Palestine advocacy—in 1987! When many of us heard about Mahmoud’s case, we immediately thought of the L.A. 8. For those of you unfamiliar, the government spent two decades trying to deport pro-Palestine activists for lawful political activity. The case, brought in 1987, did not see the charges dropped against the final two men targeted until 2007. The title of Jim’s op-ed at the time was, “Do Arab Americans Have Civil Liberties?”
Finally, government officials give Columbia University a list of demands before they consider reinstating $400 million in federal funds withheld. The link below is a must-read, but I must highlight the adoption of the IHRA definition and “Anti-“Zionist” discrimination,” and the requirement that the “Middle East, South Asian, and African Studies department” be placed in receivership for at least five years. Hard to believe, but there is even more.
In solidarity,
Maya
DAY 6 - MAHMOUD KHALIL NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Columbia University expels and revokes the diplomas of students who participated in pro-Palestinian human rights protests last year.
“Columbia University has expelled or suspended some students who took over a campus building during pro-Palestinian protests last spring and temporarily revoked the diplomas of others who have since graduated, officials said Thursday.
The university said in a campus-wide email that a judicial board brought a range of sanctions against students who occupied Hamilton Hall last spring to protest the war in Gaza.”
https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-protests-c148d1d01718a4482541a6df6cad8d74
DHS agents conducted searches of two dorms on Columbia’s campus with search warrants.
“I am writing heartbroken to inform you that we had federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in two University residences tonight. No one was arrested or detained,” Columbia interim president Katrina Armstrong wrote in an email to the university community late Thursday.
No items were removed, and no further action was taken. Federal agents from the DHS served Columbia University with two judicial search warrants signed by a federal magistrate judge authorizing DHS to enter non-public areas of the University and conduct searches of two student rooms.”
https://zeteo.com/p/breaking-dhs-agents-descend-on-columbias
The Trump Administration issues an extraordinary list of demands for Columbia to reinstate $400 million in funding—and it is not subtle about their agenda, and its unlawful nature.
“The university said in a statement that it is reviewing the Trump administration’s letter, adding, “We are committed at all times to advancing our mission, supporting our students, and addressing all forms of discrimination and hatred on our campus.”
The letter drew immediate backlash from faculty members and free speech groups.
“Half of this stuff you can’t just do and the other half is insane,” said Joseph Howley, a professor of classics at Columbia. “If the federal government can show up and demand a university department be shut down or restructured, then we don’t have universities in this country.”
In 1987, AAI President Dr. James Zogby wrote about government repression and the threat of deportation during the L.A. 8 case and how it disproportionately impacts Arab Americans.
“Arabs and Arab Americans are the weakest link in the American civil liberties chain.”
“Palestinians may be the initial victims of the act’s application. But if the precedent of deportation for reasons of membership or affiliation is established, other immigrant groups may be similarly victimized.”
Second Palestinian Columbia University student who was involved in pro-Palestinian human rights protest arrested by DHS.
“Leqaa Korda was arrested by agents from Homeland Security Investigations for allegedly overstaying her expired visa -- which terminated on Jan. 26, 2022. She was also allegedly arrested in 2024 for her involvement in the protests, according to DHS.
Korda is a Palestinian from the West Bank, according to DHS.”
https://abcnews.go.com/US/dhs-agents-search-2-student-rooms-columbia-university/story?id=119779866
Wesleyan University President shocked by Trump Administration's targeting of Mahmoud.
“I was really shocked that someone in the United States would be arrested for having participated in a lawful demonstration. I assumed there were some other justifications, I thought there would be some crime that had been committed for which the individual was being held accountable. But as I learned more about it, I saw that this was part of this broader attempt to intimidate people from protesting in ways that the White House doesn’t like.”
“Not in Our Name” declared by Jewish American protestors at Trump Tower in New York City.
“The protest, organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, began shortly after noon when demonstrators dressed in red shirts that read “Not in our Name” and “Jews Say Stop Arming Israel,” crammed into the Tower’s iconic golden atrium.
They chanted “Free Mahmoud Khalil” and unfurled banners that read “Never Again for Anyone”, “Jews Say Do Not Comply”, and “Come For One, Face Us All”, among others.”
https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/13/us/mahmoud-khalil-protesters-arrested-trump-tower/index.html
New Yorker opinion piece on why the Trump Administration's detention of Mahmoud is an assault on free speech.
“The detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate who was involved in the pro-Palestine protests on the school’s campus, is an affront to freedom of speech. Regardless of what you think about Israel, Palestine, or the protests at Columbia, if you regard the First Amendment of the United States Constitution as worth protecting, you must oppose the Trump Administration’s attempt to silence speech through repressive government action.”
Columbia University dean admits what Columbia students advocating for Palestine have been experiencing from their school: “Nobody can protect you.”
“If you have a social media page, make sure it is not filled with commentary on the Middle East,” he told the gathering in Pulitzer Hall. When a Palestinian student objected, the journalism school’s dean, Jelani Cobb, was more direct about the school’s inability to defend international students from federal prosecution.
“Nobody can protect you,” Mr. Cobb said. “These are dangerous times.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/12/nyregion/columbia-university-trump-protests.html
Arab American Institute Foundation
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Arab American Institute
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Washington, DC 20006
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