DHS revokes visa of one Columbia student, arrests another pro-Palestinian protester

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Friday it has revoked the visa of one Columbia University student and arrested another person involved in the pro-Palestinian protests, escalating its crackdown on those engaged in demonstrations over the conflict in Gaza.

The stripping of the visa comes just days after the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a former grad student at the university, by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Khalil has a green card, which can only be revoked by an immigration judge.

But Ranjani Srinivasan, a citizen of India and doctoral student in urban planning at Columbia University, had her F-1 student visa revoked on March 5, according to DHS.

The federal agency said Srinivasan “was involved in activities supporting Hamas, a terrorist organization,” sharing a video of her passing through airport security.

Columbia said it would not comment on individual students.

Another protester, Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian from the West Bank, was arrested by ICE for allegedly overstaying her F-1 student visa.

Kordia's visa was terminated in January 2022 for lack of attendance, and she was arrested in April 2024 over her involvement in the pro-Palestinian protests on campus.

“Columbia has no record of this individual being registered as a current or former student at the University,” a university spokesperson said.

An official with the university said there is no record that Kordia was arrested on campus or involved in campus activities. The university believes she was arrested outside the school on public streets.

DHS did not give specifics about the alleged activities of either student.

In announcing Srinivasan’s departure, DHS promoted its new app, the CBP Home App, adding that the Srinivasan used the app’s new “self-deport” feature by uploading her travel plans and indicating her intent to leave the country.

“It is a privilege to be granted a visa to live and study in the United States of America. When you advocate for violence and terrorism that privilege should be revoked, and you should not be in this country,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement.

The Trump administration has been under fire by free speech experts for releasing few details about the foreign students it has targeted and potentially conflating their First Amendment right to protest with illegal actions such as giving a terrorist group monetary resources.

F-1 student visa holders only have 15 days to leave the country after the visas are revoked.

Student visas can be revoked for multiple reasons, including criminal concerns, prolonged absence from school, giving incorrect information or changing schools without permission.

The announcement shows an expansion of activity since ICE arrested Khalil, a lead negotiator during the Columbia pro-Palestinian encampment last spring.

Immigration and civil rights advocates have blasted the move, calling it an abuse of federal immigration authorities to target free speech.

Khalil’s attorneys have sued to get his case moved to New York after ICE took him more than 1,000 miles away from his home to be held in Louisiana.

His lawyers noted Khalil has yet to be charged with a crime, and it is still unclear what activities the federal government targeted him over.

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression has sent a letter to the Trump administration demanding to know the reason for the arrest.

Federal officials, including President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said Khalil’s detention was only the beginning of targeting foreign students who participated in the encampments.

“We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country — never to return again,” Trump said. “If you support terrorism, including the slaughtering of innocent men, women, and children, your presence is contrary to our national and foreign policy interests, and you are not welcome here. We expect every one of America’s Colleges and Universities to comply.”

The DHS announcement comes a day after its agents searched two Columbia dorm rooms, with the university saying the agents obtained two judicial warrants but gave no information about why the search was conducted or who was the target.

Updated at 3:06 p.m. EDT

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