President Donald Trump warned Tuesday that colleges allowing “illegal protests” could lose federal funding, and foreign students involved could face deportation or imprisonment. His statement follows a federal task force’s announcement of investigations into antisemitic incidents at 10 universities.
The affected institutions, including Columbia, Harvard, and UCLA, have faced scrutiny over anti-war protests. Trump previously signed an executive order directing the Justice Department to prosecute antisemitic crimes on campuses. Meanwhile, Columbia University risks losing $51.4 million in federal contracts due to alleged failure to protect Jewish students.
Federal agencies are reviewing Columbia’s $5 billion in grant commitments, citing concerns over Title VI violations. Education Secretary Linda McMahon questioned whether the university should continue receiving government funds.