The Department of State is now conducting a formal review of the immigration status of foreign nationals involved in the illegal occupation of Columbia University’s main library, following a pro-Palestinian protest that escalated into trespassing and vandalism. According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the protesters may face deportation if found to have violated the terms of their visas or supported extremist activity.
Roughly 100 demonstrators affiliated with Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) forcibly entered the library on Wednesday, barricading themselves inside. In a departure from prior responses, law enforcement did not permit the group to leave freely. Instead, they locked down the building and began verifying identification — a move that may lead to significant legal and immigration consequences for those involved.
We are reviewing the visa status of the trespassers and vandals who took over Columbia University’s library.
Pro-Hamas thugs are no longer welcome in our great nation.
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) May 8, 2025
CUAD released a public statement justifying the occupation by accusing the university of profiting from “imperialist violence,” and demanding full divestment from Israeli-related interests. The group called for amnesty for protesters and the severing of ties with what they deem “complicit institutions.”
In response, Rubio stated that the State Department “will not tolerate noncitizens causing mayhem on our college campuses.” ICE is now coordinating with federal and local authorities to fingerprint those arrested and determine their legal status. Foreign nationals who violated immigration laws or provided material support to extremist causes could face deportation under current federal guidelines.
AOC: “It is especially important that we remember the power of young people shaping this country today, of all days, as we once again witness the leadership of those peaceful, student-led protests on campuses like Columbia, Yale, Berkeley…” 🥴 pic.twitter.com/zOweWTzYNq
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) April 22, 2024
This marks a distinct shift from the Biden administration’s handling of similar campus protests during the spring of 2024, where federal agencies were largely absent from enforcement efforts and Democratic leaders refrained from condemning the disruptions. In contrast, Rubio and the Trump administration are actively pursuing disciplinary and legal consequences.
The library occupation at Columbia is the latest flashpoint in a broader national pattern of campus unrest tied to anti-Israel demonstrations. Incidents have increasingly disrupted campus operations and raised safety concerns, particularly among Jewish students.
🚨 #BREAKING: Secretary Rubio has just announced he is “REVIEWING the visa status of trespassers and vandals who took over Columbia’s library”
THEY’RE ALL GOING BACK! 🔥
“Pro-Hamas thugs are no longer welcome in our great nation,” Rubio said pic.twitter.com/HfJenJ0nfZ
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) May 8, 2025
While Columbia University has yet to release an updated disciplinary response, federal agencies are moving forward independently. The protest’s outcome signals a harder stance toward noncitizens who engage in disruptive or illegal behavior on U.S. soil — particularly when tied to highly politicized causes.
