DHS agents search Columbia dorm rooms after Khalil arrest

Department of Homeland Security agents searched two dorm rooms at Columbia University Thursday night, the school said, a move that comes less than a week after the federal arrest of former grad student Mahmoud Khalil.

“I am writing heartbroken to inform you that we had federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in two University residences tonight,” interim Columbia President Katrina Armstrong said in a statement to the school.

“No one was arrested or detained. No items were removed, and no further action was taken,” she added.

Armstrong said the federal agents had two judicial search warrants signed by a federal magistrate judge that legally allowed them in nonpublic areas of the university.

Due to the warrants, she added, the university was “obligated to comply with the law” but University Public Safety was “present at all times.”

The Hill has reached out to DHS for comment.

On Saturday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested and moved to deport Khalil, a legal immigrant, over his participation in last year's pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus.

ICE is currently holding Khalil, a green card holder, in Louisiana as his lawyers argue for the case to be overseen by a New York court.

His arrest has led to protest and outcry from many at the school, and First Amendment experts have questions the constitutionality of the detention.

Federal officials, including President Trump, said Khalil’s arrest was just the beginning of deporting foreign students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests.

“Columbia continues to make every effort to ensure that our campus, students, faculty, and staff are safe. Columbia is committed to upholding the law, and we expect city, state, and federal agencies to do the same,” Armstrong said.

“I understand the immense stress our community is under. Despite the unprecedented challenges, Columbia University will remain a place where the pursuit of knowledge is cherished and fiercely protected, where the rule of law and due process is respected and never taken for granted, and where all members of our community are valued and able to thrive,” she added.

The news comes as the Trump administration outlined a list of changes it wants to see Columbia make to its policies to even begin talks about restoring the $400 million in federal funding it took from the university due to what it called inaction on antisemitism.

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