In a significant development, US immigration authorities have announced the arrest of a second activist involved in pro-Palestinian protests held last spring at Columbia University in New York City. Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian national from the West Bank, was apprehended in New Jersey, as stated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Friday.
The DHS statement revealed that another student, Ranjani Srinivasani, an Indian citizen, opted for self-deportation by leaving the United States earlier this week. This news comes on the heels of the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia campus activist, who was detained on Saturday in New York before being transferred to a jail in Louisiana. According to the DHS, Ms. Kordia had overstayed her student visa, which was terminated in 2022 due to lack of attendance. The statement did not clarify whether she was enrolled at Columbia or another educational institution.
Ms. Kordia had previously faced arrest in April 2024 for her participation in protests at Columbia University, as reported by the DHS.
Ranjani Srinivasani, a doctoral student in Urban Planning at Columbia University, had her visa revoked on March 5. In a statement, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized that “it is a privilege to be granted a visa to live and study in the United States of America.” She further stated, “When you advocate for violence and terrorism, that privilege should be revoked, and you should not be in this country.”
In response to the government's actions, Ms. Srinivasan's lawyer, Ramzi Kassem, conveyed to the Wall Street Journal that the DHS's remarks were riddled with “falsehoods.” He contended that the government infringed upon basic rights by revoking a visa solely based on political expression.
Mahmoud Khalil, a 30-year-old Syrian-born Columbia graduate and US green card holder, has become a focal point in the discussion surrounding free speech on college campuses. The case has incited questions regarding the legal processes that could lead to the deportation of a permanent resident in the US. His legal team asserts that he was merely exercising his right to free speech by demonstrating in support of Palestinians in Gaza and against US support for Israel. They firmly deny any allegations linking him to Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the US government.
In a related matter, on Thursday night, DHS agents executed two search warrants within Columbia University's premises. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche of the US Justice Department stated that the agents were seeking evidence that the university was harboring and concealing illegal aliens on its campus. This investigation remains ongoing, with inquiries also aimed at whether Columbia's previous actions violated civil rights laws and involved terrorism-related offenses.
In a letter addressing the campus community, Columbia's Interim President Katrina Armstrong expressed her sorrow over the federal raid, clarifying that no arrests were made, no items were seized, and no additional actions were taken following the searches.
The Trump administration has taken a firm stance against Columbia University, withdrawing $400 million (£310 million) in federal funding, citing the institution's failure to adequately combat antisemitism on campus. This decision has further intensified the debate surrounding free speech and political expression within academic environments.
