$500,000 lifeline: How Columbia University is protecting students from the Trump administration’s visa crackdown

When the United States tightened visa regulations last spring, international students at Columbia University faced unprecedented uncertainty. Thousands of visas were revoked under the Trump administration’s ongoing crackdown on the conduct of foreign students. On campus, the presence of plainclothes Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents created a palpable sense of unease, leaving students and scholars unsure of their status. According to Columbia Spectator, several affiliates, including Mahmoud Khalil, Rümeysa Öztürk, and Mohsen Mahdawi, were detained for their pro-Palestinian advocacy before being released, sparking concerns about the freedom of speech for international students. In response, Columbia University moved quickly to protect its international community. Actin