Savanna Hoffman
Columbia University has seen several student arrests in recent years, notably during pro-Palestinian protests on campus. In 2024 and 2025, there were reports of dozens of student arrests as pro-Palestinian activists occupied campus buildings and libraries, with some facing deportation. The university called for police intervention, citing disruption and vandalism. The Trump administration's response included visa revocations and threats of funding cuts, sparking debates around free speech, campus activism, and academic freedom. These incidents have drawn attention to Columbia, raising concerns among students and faculty about the government's role in campus affairs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of arrests | May 7, 2025 |
| Number of arrests | 80 (34 in one source) |
| Number of students arrested | 50 (21 in one source) |
| Gender of those arrested | 61 females, 19 males |
| Protest group | Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) |
| Type of protest | Pro-Palestinian |
| Location of protest | Butler Library, Columbia University |
| Police involved | NYPD |
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What You'll Learn
Pro-Palestinian protests in 2025
In 2025, pro-Palestinian protests took place at Columbia University, resulting in the arrests of dozens of students. The protests were sparked by accusations of the university's failure to protect Jewish students from antisemitism and the subsequent cancellation of $400 million in federal research funding. Protesters set up an encampment and seized Hamilton Hall, leading to a standoff with the NYPD, who entered the campus in riot gear. This resulted in the arrests of 80 individuals, with at least 50 identified as Columbia University students.
The pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University are part of a broader movement across US universities, with similar demonstrations occurring at other institutions. The protests have also extended beyond university campuses, with organisations like USCPR coordinating protests and campaigns to pressure the US to stop arming Israel and end military funding.
The consequences for students involved in pro-Palestinian protests have been significant. Students have faced surveillance, disciplinary action, suspension, and expulsion from universities. Some students fear retaliation and further punitive measures, including the potential loss of financial aid. Additionally, the Trump administration has threatened to revoke visas and deport foreign students who advocate for Palestinian rights.
In response to the protests, Columbia University has undergone leadership changes. The interim president stepped down after agreeing to the Trump administration's demands, sacrificing the university's independence and academic freedom, according to critics. The university has implemented new policies, including a ban on students wearing masks to conceal their identities during protests.
The pro-Palestinian movement in the US faces external challenges, such as the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 and Project Esther, which aim to dismantle support for the Palestinian cause in educational institutions and brand critics of Israel as terrorists. Despite these obstacles, pro-Palestinian students and activists continue to organise and express their outrage at US complicity in Israel's actions.
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Trump administration's response
The Trump administration has taken a hard line on the pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, with President Trump himself labelling the protesters as "pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, [and] anti-American". The administration has accused Columbia University of failing to protect Jewish students from antisemitism and has cracked down on the protests, including by revoking visas and threatening deportations of international students involved. Federal immigration agents have arrested two foreigners who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia, one of whom was a student, and revoked the visa of another student who has since fled the country. The Department of Homeland Security has also searched the on-campus residences of two Columbia students.
In addition to targeting individual students, the Trump administration has taken aim at Columbia University itself, cancelling hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research funding. This has had significant repercussions for the university, leading to layoffs and a series of leadership changes. The interim president of Columbia University stepped down in March 2025 after agreeing to the Trump administration's demands, which included a ban on students wearing masks to protests and a change in oversight of certain academic programs. The administration has also threatened to withhold an additional $400 million in federal funding for Columbia, further imperilling the university's finances.
The Trump administration's response to the pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University has sparked outrage among faculty and critics who argue that the university has sacrificed its independence and academic freedom. There are also concerns that the administration's actions are setting a precedent for government crackdowns on college campuses, with international students and faculty expressing apprehension about the potential consequences of speaking out or participating in political activities. Some schools have advised international students to be cautious about their public statements and social media posts to avoid jeopardizing their immigration status.
The response to the Columbia University protests is part of a broader trend of the Trump administration targeting top-tier US universities that it accuses of failing to combat antisemitism on campus. The administration has also threatened deportations and revoked visas of students at other institutions, indicating that the crackdown on campus protests is likely to continue.
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Columbia's leadership changes
Columbia University has undergone a series of leadership changes following protests by pro-Palestinian activists on campus. The protests, which took place in 2025, led to the arrest of dozens of students and inspired similar demonstrations at other universities across the country. The university's interim president stepped down in March 2025 after agreeing to nearly all of the Trump administration's demands, a decision that was met with outrage from faculty members and critics. The interim president, Katrina A. Armstrong, returned to lead the University's Irving Medical Center, and the Board of Trustees appointed Claire Shipman as Acting President until a new president could be found.
The protests by pro-Palestinian groups on campus accused the university administration of failing to protect Jewish students from antisemitism. The federal government cut $400 million in research funding, leading to layoffs and financial strain for the university. The protests also included a building takeover, with demonstrators occupying Hamilton Hall and the central library, Butler Library, for several hours. This disruption to academic activities and damage to university property were condemned by the university administration, which called for an end to violence, antisemitism, and discrimination on campus.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) arrested a total of 80 protesters, with at least 50 identified as Columbia University students. Among those arrested were 19 males and 61 females, with reports indicating that most of the arrested individuals were women. The protesters refused to show their IDs and warned of consequences for their "militarized arrest." They also vandalized the library with graffiti and scuffled with officers, resulting in injuries to two Columbia Public Safety Officers.
Following the protests and leadership changes, Columbia University implemented new rules, including a ban on students wearing masks to conceal their identities. The university also faced criticism for sacrificing its independence and academic freedom by agreeing to the Trump administration's demands. The federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism initiated a review of the university, and the university administration worked to restore federal research funding by cooperating with the Trump administration.
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International students' fears
In May 2025, Columbia University called in the NYPD to arrest dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters who had set up an encampment and seized Hamilton Hall, a campus building. The university was accused of failing to protect Jewish students from antisemitism on campus, which led to the cancellation of $400 million in federal research funding.
The incident at Columbia University is part of a wider trend of international students facing visa cancellations and deportations, causing fear and anxiety on US college campuses. Since late March 2025, at least 1,024 students at 160 colleges and universities have had their visas revoked or legal status terminated. The Trump administration's crackdown on protesters and critics of Israel has resulted in high-profile detentions and visa revocations, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio claiming that the US revoked at least 300 foreign students' visas.
International students are now afraid to return to the US after leaving the country, with some choosing to work remotely due to the fear of being unable to re-enter. There are also reports of students being too scared to leave their apartments, even for essential tasks such as grocery shopping. The situation has been described as having a “chilling effect” on campuses, with students carrying cards listing their constitutional rights and requesting anonymity when speaking to the media out of fear of becoming targets.
The impact of these incidents extends beyond the students themselves, as researchers abroad refuse to return to the US, affecting university departments. Additionally, some American students are choosing to pursue their higher education in other countries, seeking a less tumultuous environment and better opportunities. The combination of targeted detentions, visa revocations, and political attacks on higher education institutions has left international students and US citizens alike feeling uncertain about their academic futures in the country.
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NYPD's involvement
NYPD officers entered Columbia University's campus in riot gear after pro-Palestinian activists occupied the campus's main library building in an hours-long standoff. The New York Police Department arrested 61 females, 19 males, and dozens more protesters, with at least 50 of the 80 protesters arrested being Columbia University students.
The Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), a pro-Palestinian protest group on campus, posted on social media that the library's main reading room had been seized and renamed in recognition of Palestinian scholar and revolutionary Basel al-Araj. The group reiterated its demands on Wednesday night, including divestment, amnesty for students, faculty, and staff facing university discipline, and the removal of police and ICE agents.
Columbia University requested NYPD assistance in securing the building, and the NYPD confirmed the "multiple arrests" of protesters who occupied the library but did not provide an exact number. The NYPD arrived on campus in force at the request of Columbia officials, who said the student demonstrators occupying the library were engaged in trespassing. Videos and photographs on social media showed protesters, most wearing masks, standing on tables, beating drums, and unfurling banners with pro-Palestinian messages.
The involvement of the NYPD in the arrests of Columbia University students is indicative of the university's request for assistance in dealing with the protest and the presence of trespassing and disruptive behaviour by the demonstrators. The NYPD's role was to respond to the situation, ensure the safety of those involved, and enforce the law by making arrests when necessary.
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Frequently asked questions
More than 70 protesters were arrested, with sources placing the number of students arrested at between 40 and 50.
Yes, sources indicate that multiple individuals who were not students were also arrested.
The protesters were arrested for trespassing and occupying the university's library.
