Trump Administration Targets Nearly 2,000 Pro-Palestine Students with Legal Action
Washington (Quds News Network)- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said Friday that the Trump administration has launched legal action against nearly 2,000 university students and activists over their support for Palestine and anti-genocide activism. The measures come after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at combating ‘antisemitism’ earlier this year.
CAIR reported that U.S. immigration authorities began by revoking student visas and later expanded to arrests and legal proceedings. Among those affected is Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student who led pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University. He was detained in March despite facing no formal charges.
The executive order signed in January prohibits pro-Palestinian and anti-genocide demonstrations on university campuses. While American citizens have participated in protests, foreign students have been the primary targets of enforcement, due to their limited legal protections.
The administration has supported disciplinary actions taken by institutions such as Yale University against students peacefully protesting a visit by Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir. Measures included breaking up demonstrations, revoking student group status, and launching internal investigations.
CAIR linked these actions to the pending Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2025, introduced by Senator Tim Scott. The bill would require the Department of Education to apply the infamous IHRA definition of antisemitism, which equates criticism of Israel with hate speech.
Since March, over 1,000 foreign students have lost their legal status. Many universities have started advising international students to seek legal counsel and avoid international travel. Legal challenges have been filed in several courts, and a small number of students have had their status temporarily restored.
Protests that began at Columbia University in response to the Gaza genocide have since spread to over 50 universities across the country. Police have detained more than 3,100 individuals, most of them students and faculty members.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing on the Antisemitism Awareness Act on April 30. Civil rights groups are urging Congress to reject the bill, warning it could further restrict student activism and academic freedom.
