News | Administration
Department of Homeland Security agents search two University-owned residences, no arrests made
The announcement from interim University President Katrina Armstrong comes nearly a week after Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained and arrested Mahmoud Khalil, SIPA ’24.
By Judy Goldstein / Columbia Daily SpectatorArmstrong wrote that no arrests were made and no items were removed.By Joseph Zuloaga, Daksha Pillai, and Elliot Heath • March 14, 2025 at 4:57 AM
By Joseph Zuloaga, Daksha Pillai, and Elliot Heath • March 14, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Updated on March 14 at 4:39 p.m.
Department of Homeland Security agents searched two student rooms in University-owned residences Thursday night, interim University President Katrina Armstrong announced in a Thursday email.
Armstrong wrote that no arrests were made and no items were removed. DHS agents served the University two judicial search warrants signed by a federal magistrate judge to search two student rooms, according to the email. Armstrong did not clarify which University-owned residences were searched by DHS officers.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Friday during a speech at the Justice Department that the warrants were executed as part of a separate probe into whether the University was “harboring and concealing illegal aliens” on campus.
The announcement comes almost a week after Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers—which is the law enforcement agency of the DHS—detained and arrested Palestinian activist and legal resident Mahmoud Khalil, SIPA ’24, on Saturday. He was living in University-owned housing. Khalil’s arrest prompted widespread outcry from students, faculty, and politicians, who criticized the Trump administration for violating Khalil’s right to free speech.
In her email, Armstrong wrote that she was “heartbroken” to notify the community of the DHS search.
Armstrong wrote that there is “clear protocol in place” that requires ICE agents to have a judicial warrant to access non-public University areas like University-owned housing.
“Tonight, that threshold was met, and the University is obligated to comply with the law,” Armstrong wrote, adding that Public Safety “was present at all times.”
“Columbia continues to make every effort to ensure that our campus, students, faculty, and staff are safe,” Armstrong wrote. “Columbia is committed to upholding the law, and we expect city, state, and federal agencies to do the same.”
Deputy News Editor Joseph Zuloaga can be contacted at joseph.zuloaga@columbiaspectator.com. Follow him on X @josephzuloaga.
Deputy News Editor Daksha Pillai can be contacted at daksha.pillai@columbiaspectator.com. Follow Spectator on X @ColumbiaSpec.
Video Editor Elliot Heath can be contacted at elliot.heath@columbiaspectator.com. Follow him on X @ElliotHeath10.
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