The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has launched investigations into 60 colleges and universities for alleged violations related to antisemitic harassment and discrimination. In letters sent Monday, the agency warned institutions that failure to protect Jewish students could result in consequences.
The announcement follows increased scrutiny of university administrators over pro-Palestinian demonstrations that have erupted on campuses across the country in the past year, leading to numerous arrests.
President Donald Trump’s administration has prioritized addressing what it views as antisemitic and anti-Israel movements in higher education. Early in his presidency, Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to take action against antisemitism in schools and universities. On February 3, he announced the formation of a multi-agency task force to enforce these measures and warned that institutions found to be tolerating antisemitism could face funding cuts.
Last week, Trump specifically targeted Columbia University, announcing plans to revoke $400 million in federal grants and contracts, citing the school’s failure to curb antisemitic incidents. It remains unclear which specific research programs or activities will be affected by the funding withdrawal.
Among the institutions under investigation are Columbia, Harvard University, Northwestern University, Portland State University, the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. The OCR’s letter indicated that the remaining 55 universities are either under investigation or being monitored following complaints. Six of the eight Ivy League schools received letters from the agency.
Pro-Palestinian activists argue that criticism of Israel’s actions and calls for a ceasefire do not constitute antisemitism. Among them is Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist involved in Columbia’s student protest movement, who was arrested by federal immigration officers Saturday. His attorney stated the government revoked his green card based on a State Department order.
Trump responded to Khalil’s arrest on Truth Social, stating it was “the first arrest of many to come” in an effort to crack down on foreign students involved in “illegal protests” against the Gaza war. A federal judge in New York temporarily blocked Khalil’s deportation, scheduling a hearing for Wednesday to review the case.
“ICE’s arrest and detention of Mahmoud follows the US government’s open repression of student activism and political speech, specifically targeting students at Columbia University for criticism of Israel’s assault on Gaza,” Khalil’s attorney Amy Greer said in a statement. “The US government has made clear that they will use immigration enforcement as a tool to suppress that speech.”
As the OCR prioritizes clearing a backlog of antisemitism-related complaints, the scope and timeline of the investigations remain uncertain.
