Rubio says administration will review visa statuses of arrested Columbia protesters

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the Trump administration will review the visa statuses of all the protesters arrested at Columbia University on Wednesday night. 

“We are reviewing the visa status of the trespassers and vandals who took over Columbia University’s library. Pro-Hamas thugs are no longer welcome in our great nation,” Rubio wrote on the social platform X. 

Around 80 individuals were arrested after pro-Palestinian protesters stormed a Columbia library, reportedly injuring two employees. 

Protesters were seen inside and outside the library, with pro-Palestinian flags and video of some carving “Columbia will burn” into framed pictures. 

The protesters were warned to leave, and Columbia’s interim president called in the police when they would not.  

“Requesting the presence of the NYPD is not the outcome we wanted, but it was absolutely necessary to secure the safety of our community,” Claire Shipman, the university’s acting head, said. 

“Disruptions to our academic activities will not be tolerated and are violations of our rules and policies; this is especially unacceptable while our students study and prepare for final exams. Columbia strongly condemns violence on our campus, antisemitism and all forms of hate and discrimination, some of which we witnessed today,” she added. 

The federal government’s antisemitism task force praised Columbia for its swift action and expressed confidence the individuals would be properly disciplined.  

Dozens of international students across the country have seen their visas revoked and have in some cases been arrested by federal authorities for their pro-Palestinian activism or participation in the encampments last spring.