Dozens of protesters were arrested Wednesday after occupying the Butler Library at Columbia University. University officials called the New York Police Department to the campus to remove the protesters who had taken over a section of the building during final exams.
More than 80 people were taken into custody, according to NYPD sources. United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement was monitoring the situation, with sources indicating individuals arrested would be fingerprinted to check their citizenship status. An ICE source stated it was "Time to make a point."
Non-protesting students were forced to leave the library, disrupting their study schedules. The State Department warned foreign students about legal consequences, stating, "if you break the law or support terrorism in our country, we will revoke your visa." Secretary of State Marco Rubio later stated his agency was reviewing the visa status of trespassers and vandals, adding that "Pro-Hamas thugs are no longer welcome in our great nation."
The protesters reportedly acted in support of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate arrested last month, and other students. HSI, part of ICE, informed Khalil his green card and student visa were being revoked, according to his attorney.
Inside the library, protesters renamed a section "Basel Al-Araj Popular University," calling it a "liberation zone." Some stood on desks chanting "Free Palestine" and demanded the Ivy League school divest from Israel. Flyers called on the university to divest from entities profiting from Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Columbia’s acting president, Claire Shipman, stated the school requested NYPD assistance to "secure" the building after protesters refused repeated demands to leave and show identification. She reported two Columbia Public Safety Officers were injured during a crowd surge as people tried to force their way into the building. Shipman called the actions "outrageous" and said requesting NYPD was necessary for community safety.
New York Mayor Eric Adams expressed support for Jewish New Yorkers and urged protesters to leave the campus. He stated the city would not tolerate hate or violence and warned non-Columbia students they would be arrested if they remained on campus.
This incident follows previous campus disruptions, including last year's occupation of Hamilton Hall and clashes with police after the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas. The university had previously warned against repeating encampments.
Columbia has faced scrutiny over antisemitism concerns on campus. The university announced layoffs impacting approximately 180 staff members funded by federal grants after the Trump administration canceled $400 million in funding in March over concerns about the school's handling of antisemitism. Shipman stated the university was working to restore funding.
U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., criticized calls for investigations into universities, arguing laws are not being followed. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., praised the Trump administration's action on funding, stating "not a single taxpayer dollar should go to a university that allows chaos, antisemitism, and civil rights violations on its campus."
