70 Columbia Protesters Arrested for Occupying Library Over Palestinian Causes, ICE Monitoring

Columbia University faced significant disruption when masked protesters, advocating for Palestinian causes, occupied Butler Library during the crucial finals period. The protesters, who entered the library around 3 p.m., were part of a demonstration organized by Columbia University Apartheid Divest, demanding divestment from entities linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, an end to campus policing by ICE and NYPD, and renaming the library 'Basel al-Araj Popular University' after a Palestinian militant. The university's response was swift, with Public Safety officers arresting nearly 70 demonstrators for trespassing after they refused to show identification. The situation escalated when protesters attempted to leave without complying with the ID check, leading to a standoff and injuries to at least one protester and two security guards. Chants of 'global intifada' and 'no cops, no KKK, no fascist USA' were heard during the protest. The incident drew condemnation from New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul, who emphasized the right to peaceful protest but condemned violence and disruption. The Trump administration has been closely monitoring the situation, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) prepared to fingerprint arrested individuals to check their citizenship status, potentially leading to deportations. The State Department has warned that foreign students breaking the law or supporting terrorism could face visa revocation. This event follows a series of tensions at Columbia, including the recent layoffs of 180 staff members due to the loss of federal funding, which was revoked by the Trump administration over the university's handling of previous protests. The administration's stance on First Amendment rights for international students involved in such protests remains unclear, as a government lawyer declined to comment on the issue during a recent appeals court hearing.