Cape News

The rise in antisemitism on college campuses has prompted action from President Donald Trump. Following Hamas' October 7 attack against Israel, there have been reports of increased incidents involving pro-Hamas protestors targeting Jewish students, leading to property damage and fear among students.

President Trump responded by signing an executive order aimed at addressing these issues. The order calls for federal agencies to investigate colleges that fail to protect Jewish students from harassment and violence. President Trump stated, “To all the resident aliens who joined in the pro-jihadist protests, we put you on notice: come 2025, we will find you, and we will deport you. I will also quickly cancel the student visas of all Hamas sympathizers on college campuses.”

On March 10, President Trump announced that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents had apprehended Mahmoud Khalil, a senior leader for Columbia University's Apartheid Divest student organization. This group has been involved in rallies that resulted in injuries and harassment of Jewish students.

The administration also plans to rescind over $400 million in federal grants to Columbia University due to its handling of antisemitism on campus. Additionally, a review is underway concerning more than $5 billion in federal grant funding provided to the university.

Furthermore, the Department of Education has warned 60 universities about potential consequences if they allow discrimination against Jewish students to continue unchecked.

The Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee expressed support for these measures, emphasizing the importance of ensuring a safe learning environment for all students and holding institutions accountable.