Federal Investigators Examining Potential Terrorism Accusations Against Pro-Palestinian Demonstrators at Columbia University
Rewritten Article:
The United States Justice Department is scrutinizing whether certain individuals participating in the pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University last year potentially breached federal anti-terrorism legislations, as per Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche's announcement on Friday.
Blanche stated in an address to department staff preceding President Donald Trump's scheduled speech that afternoon that the DOJ is examining "whether Columbia's management of previous incidents possibly infringed upon civil rights laws incorporating terrorism crimes." He emphasized, "This is long past due."
Blanche unequivocally declared, "Hamas is a terrorist organization. It carries the blood of American citizens on its hands." He further clarified, "Any individual engaged in the material support of terrorism will face prosecution. This applies to those who threaten acts of violence on behalf of Hamas within the United States or even transfer funds to Hamas within the United States."
His statements were made in the context of a tighter enforcement strategy by the Justice Department and other federal law enforcement agencies against antisemitism. These measures have generated controversy not only at Columbia University but also among civil rights organizations nationwide, particularly in relation to the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian refugee. Khalil's green card was revoked due to his role in protests against the Israel-Hamas conflict at Columbia the previous spring.
The department is also investigating whether Columbia University was providing shelter or concealing immigrants who are residing in the U.S. illegally, according to Blanche.
On Thursday night, federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security were present on Columbia's New York campus, as reported by CNN. They executed search warrants to scour through two student rooms. The university's interim president confirmed that "No one was arrested or detained. No items were removed, and no further action was taken."
- Despite the controversy surrounding the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, Deputy Attorney General Blanche emphasized that any individual engaged in the material support of terrorism, such as Hamas, will face prosecution within the United States.
- During his address, Blanche also underlined the department's investigation into whether Columbia University potentially violated civil rights laws, specifically in regards to handling incidents that may have involved terrorism crimes.
- Furthermore, Blanche asserted that the Justice Department is investigating whether Columbia University provided shelter or concealed immigrants residing in the U.S. illegally, a matter that has attracted attention amidst the tighter enforcement strategy against antisemitism.
