DHS Arrests Second Student Linked to Columbia University Protests for Allegedly Overstaying Student Visa

New York Magazine
Feds Arrest Second Gaza Protester From Columbia

On Friday, the Department of Homeland Security announced it has arrested a second Columbia University student as part of the Trump administration’s long-promised crackdown on college protests against the war in Gaza. The move comes just days after federal agents arrested and detained Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at the university and a green-card holder who led protests there last year. In a press release, the DHS said Leqaa Kordia was arrested for overstaying her student visa. The agency said her visa had been terminated in January 2022 for “lack of attendance.” The DHS said Kordia, a Palestinian from the West Bank, had previously been arrested last April for taking part in Gaza protests on Columbia’s campus. The agency also said another Columbia student, Ranjani Srinivasan, self-deported.

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New York Magazine
NBC New York
Feds arrest another Columbia University student amid Trump immigration crackdown

On Friday, DHS issued a release on two Columbia students. Officials say one student, a Palestinian woman from the West Bank, was arrested by ICE HSI Newark officers for allegedly overstaying her expired F-1 visa. Back in April 2024, the woman had been arrested for her involvement in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, DHS said. DHS says the other student, a citizen of India, entered the U.S. on an F-1 student visa as a doctoral student in urban planning at Columbia, allegedly got involved in activities supporting "Hamas." Her visa was revoked earlier this month. DHS says it has video showing her use the CBP app to self-deport less than a week later.

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New York Post
Second anti-Israel Columbia protester, Leqaa Kordia, arrested by Homeland Security for immigration violations

A second protester who took part in anti-Israel demonstrations at Columbia University has been nabbed by immigration officials, who also revoked the visa of another student “for advocating for violence and terrorism,” sources said Friday. Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian who hails from the West Bank, was busted by Homeland Security agents Thursday for alleged immigration violations related to overstaying on an expired student visa, the sources said. Kordia — who was turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Newark, New Jersey — was first arrested in April 2024 for taking part in one of the protests on Columbia’s campus while overstaying on her twice-canceled student visa, according to the sources.

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Columbia protester arrested for overstaying student visa as tensions grow on campus
The student, identified as Leqaa Kordia, had overstayed her visa. Her visa was revoked for lack of attendance, officials said. The student had taken part in protests at Columbia University last year. She is the latest in a string of people to be deported from the United States.
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Woman who protested at Columbia University arrested for immigration violations as another self-deports, DHS says
Department of Homeland Security agents carried out search warrants at two residences. No one was arrested or detained, university says. Interim President Katrina Armstrong says she is "heartbroken" by the search. She adds the school is committed to keeping students and the community safe. The warrants were signed by a federal judge.
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Second Pro-Palestinian Protester at Columbia Arrested by Trump Officials
Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian from the West Bank, was arrested for overstaying her student visa, DHS said. Her visa was terminated in January 2022 due to lack of attendance, and she had previously been arrested for her involvement in Columbia protests in April 2024. Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian citizen and doctoral student, chose to "self-deport"
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Second Columbia protester arrested, another student 'self-deports'
Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian from the West Bank, was arrested by immigration officers for overstaying her student visa. Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian citizen and doctoral student, opted to "self-deport" on Tuesday. The announcement comes after the recent arrest of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil.
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ICE Arrests Another Palestinian Columbia Protestor, Feds Say
A Columbia University protestor has been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for an expired student visa.
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Pro-Hamas Foreign Student Uses Trump's Self-Deportation App to Leave U.S.
Ranjani Srinivasan, a foreign student from India, had her F-1 student visa revoked on March 5 due to her involvement with pro-Hamas protests on Columbia’s campus. As a result of her visa being revoked, she used Trump's self-deportation app to leave the U.S.
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ICE arrests Columbia pro-Hamas student, another self-deports
In coming days, “expect more visas will be revoked as we identify people who we should never have allowed in,” the U.S. secretary of state said.
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A Student Without a Visa Self-Deported, Another Is Under Arrest
Ranjani Srinivasan, a doctoral student in urban planning, had her visa revoked earlier this month. Authorities said she used the Customs and Border Patrol app to self-deport. Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian in the country on a student visa, was arrested for overstaying the visa.
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DHS arrests another student involved in Columbia University protests
Leqaa Korda was arrested by HSI for allegedly overstaying her expired visa. She also allegedly was arrested in 2024 for her involvement in the protests. Another student used the CBP Home app, which DHS just rolled out to make it easier for those in U.S. illegally to self deport.
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DHS arrests another student involved in Columbia university protests
Leqaa Korda was arrested for allegedly overstaying her expired visa. She was also allegedly arrested in 2024 for her involvement in the protests. The arrest comes nearly a week after plain-clothed Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder.
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Columbia protester arrested for overstaying student visa as tensions grow on campus
The student, identified as Leqaa Kordia, was previously arrested for her participation in the protests. Her visa was terminated in January 2022 for lack of attendance, officials said. Her arrest follows the self-deportation of a Columbia doctoral student from India, whom DHS accused of supporting Hamas.
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Officials Arrest Second Columbia Student as Trump Issues Ultimatum
Officials arrested Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian from the occupied West Bank. She had overstayed her student visa, which was terminated in 2022 for “lack of attendance.” In addition, the Trump administration revoked the student visa of Columbia doctoral student Ranjani Srinivasan.
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