Dangerous precedent’: Lawsuit filed after Columbia University data leaks
The Council on American-Islamic Relations and the law firm Dratel & Lewis have filed a lawsuit on behalf of Columbia University students.
The move comes after the arrest and detention of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at Columbia.
“Columbia University’s apparent willingness to comply with the Congressional request to disclose private student records sets a dangerous precedent that undermines academic freedom and student privacy,” said Amy Greer, an associate with Dratel & Lewis.
“Our lawsuit seeks to protect the constitutional rights of students who should not be subjected to political intimidation or invasive government overreach. We will continue to fight for the privacy and dignity of all students.”
Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump heralded Khalil’s arrest as the first “of many to come”, pledging on social media to deport students he said engage in “pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity”.
Rubio says US likely to revoke more student visas in coming days
The secretary of state’s remarks follow the arrest and detention of Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil, whom the US administration aims to deport over his pro-Palestinian activism.
“In the days to come, you should expect more visas will be revoked as we identify people that we should have never allowed in,” Rubio told reporters following a meeting of G7 foreign ministers.
Another Columbia student arrested as another self-deports, DHS says, over Palestine protests
US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has announced that one of the Columbia University students who had her student visa revoked by the authorities over activism for Palestine self-deported.
Ranjani Srinivasan, a citizen and national of India who entered the United States on an student visa as doctoral student in urban planning at Columbia University, used the CBP Home App to self-deport on March 11, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said.
The statement added that the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian student from the occupied West Bank, for overstaying her expired student visa.
Her visa was terminated on January 26, 2022, for lack of attendance, the statement said.
“Previously, in April 2024 Kordia was arrested for her involvement in pro-Hamas protests at Columbia University in New York City,” the department also said.
Essay Pro