Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• US House passes bill penalizing universities participating in Israel boycotts — The US House of Representatives passed the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act on a 237-169 vote, with 33 Democrats crossing party lines. The bill mandates that colleges and universities receiving federal student aid and international study funding certify annually that they do not participate in boycotts of Israel and do not restrict students from participating in Israeli programs or Israeli students from campus programs. The measure now proceeds to the Senate.

Supporting reports

• DHS agents arrest Columbia student using false pretenses — DHS agents arrested Columbia University student Ellie Aghayeva after misrepresenting themselves as police searching for a missing child to gain access to an off-campus residence building, according to the university's president. Aghayeva was released from federal custody hours later following an apparent intervention by Trump after he met with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who raised concerns about the detention.
• Mamdani meets Trump in Oval Office; secures housing funding pitch and immigration detainee release — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met with President Trump in an unannounced Oval Office visit on Thursday. Mamdani pitched a $21 billion federal grant proposal for 12,000 affordable housing units, including construction over a rail yard in Sunnyside, Queens. During the meeting, Trump appeared "enthusiastic" about the housing plan. Mamdani also secured the release of a Columbia University student from federal immigration detention who had been arrested that morning, and requested Trump consider dismissing cases against four other detained students, including Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil.
• Trump agreed to release detained Columbia student following mayor's intervention — NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani met with President Trump and raised concerns about Elmina Aghayeva's detention by ICE. Trump agreed to release her "imminently." Aghayeva confirmed her release via Instagram the same day, stating she was "safe and okay." The intervention bypassed normal legal processes and demonstrated executive discretion over immigration enforcement outcomes based on political access.
• ICE detained Columbia student Elmina Aghayeva using misrepresentation to gain apartment access — Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents entered an off-campus Columbia University residential building on February 27, 2026, by falsely claiming to search for a missing child. They detained student Elmina Aghayeva without a warrant. Columbia's acting president confirmed agents misrepresented themselves and lacked proper legal authorization. Following a meeting between NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and President Trump, Aghayeva was released the same day. The incident sparked campus protests and criticism from state officials over ICE's tactics.

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• Pentagon ends all military training, fellowships, and certificate programs with Harvard University — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the Pentagon is terminating all Professional Military Education, fellowships, and certificate programs with Harvard University, characterizing the institution as "woke" and a center of "Hate America activism." Hegseth stated that within two weeks, all military departments will evaluate existing graduate programs for active-duty service members at Ivy League and other civilian universities. The move follows months of Trump administration threats, lawsuits, and demands against Harvard, including Trump's claim seeking $1 billion in damages over alleged antisemitism enablement.

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• Students and faculty at over 100 US universities stage coordinated day of action against Trump administration's higher education policies — On November 7, 2025, students, faculty, and staff at more than 100 US campuses organized a nationwide day of protest against the Trump administration's assault on higher education. Protesters opposed the administration's "compact" offering federal funding in exchange for ideological alignment, called for protection of transgender and international students, demanded fair wages and divestment from weapons manufacturers, and targeted billionaire Marc Rowan's influence over education policy. Organizers announced plans for escalating strikes culminating in May Day 2026 and a general strike in May 2028.

Supporting reports

• Department of Justice announces settlement agreement with Cornell University on civil rights compliance and agricultural research funding — The Department of Justice, Department of Education, and Department of Health and Human Services announced a settlement with Cornell University requiring the university to invest $30 million in agricultural research through 2028, pay $30 million to the federal government over three years, adopt DOJ civil rights training guidance, provide admissions data for statistical analysis, and comply with requests regarding foreign funding sources. In exchange, the federal government will close pending investigations into Cornell's admissions policies and civil rights concerns, restore terminated grants, and treat Cornell as eligible for future federal funding.
• White House issues fact sheet on Cornell University settlement — The White House issued a fact sheet on November 7, 2025, announcing a settlement between the Trump Administration and Cornell University. According to the document, Cornell will pay a $30 million penalty to the United States over three years, invest $30 million in agricultural research over three years, conduct annual campus climate surveys regarding Jewish student safety, and comply with federal civil rights laws. The fact sheet states the agreement addresses alleged racial discrimination in admissions, DEI practices in hiring, and anti-Semitic incidents on campus.

Supporting reports

• Brown University rejected Trump administration higher education agreement — Brown University became the second university to reject an offer from the Trump administration that would provide the school with favorable treatment for federal funds if it agreed to make changes to its policies that reflect the president's higher education agenda. In a letter to Trump administration officials, the school's president said she's concerned that the agreement would "restrict academic freedom and undermine the autonomy of Brown's governance."
• Brown University rejects Trump administration's "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education" — Brown University's president Christina Paxson sent a letter to Trump administration officials declining to sign the proposed 10-page college compact, which would restrict diversity, equity and inclusion programs and limit international student enrollment in exchange for preferential federal funding access. Paxson cited concerns that the compact would restrict academic freedom, undermine institutional autonomy, and compromise merit-based research funding criteria. Brown became the second major university to refuse, following MIT's rejection the previous week.
• University of Pennsylvania rejected Trump administration agreement — The University of Pennsylvania and the University of Southern California became the latest post-secondary institutions to reject the Trump administration's agreement. Penn's Faculty Senate had passed a resolution that noted the deal "proposes an unprecedented and unconstitutional degree of governmental intrusion on academic freedom."
• University of Southern California rejected Trump administration agreement — The University of Southern California became the latest post-secondary institution to reject the Trump administration's agreement on higher education policy.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration suspends $584 million in federal funding to UCLA over civil rights allegations — On August 6, the Trump administration suspended $584 million in federal funding to the University of California, Los Angeles, alleging civil rights violations related to antisemitism and affirmative action. The administration accused UCLA of "acting with deliberate indifference in creating a hostile educational environment for Jewish and Israeli students." The UC system's president indicated willingness to engage in talks with the administration over the allegations.
• UCLA chancellor announced $584 million in frozen federal funds — UCLA's chancellor announced that the amount of federal funds frozen by the Trump administration is roughly $584 million, saying in a statement that, "if these funds remain suspended, it will be devastating for UCLA and for Americans across the nation."
• UCLA receives $6 million settlement demand and $300 million funding freeze despite prior concessions — UCLA agreed to pay $6 million to settle a lawsuit by Jewish students and a professor over its handling of pro-Palestinian protests. However, the Trump administration subsequently froze more than $300 million of the university's federal funding, citing "antisemitism and bias," despite UCLA's prior adoption of restrictive protest policies and centralized faculty hiring. The administration's continued targeting occurred despite UCLA's anticipatory compliance.

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• Oklahoma schools chief announces MAGA loyalty test for teachers from other states — Oklahoma Schools Chief Ryan Walters announced that Oklahoma will be the first state to require teachers from "liberal-leaning states" to pass an "America First Test" developed in partnership with conservative think tank PragerU. The test will cover American history, civics, and "common sense" to ensure teachers do not "indoctrinate" students with a "liberal agenda." Walters stated that teachers from "woke states" will not be allowed to teach in Oklahoma without passing the test.

Supporting reports

• Columbia University disciplines approximately 80 students for pro-Palestinian protest activities — Columbia University imposed disciplinary sanctions on approximately 80 students involved in a pro-Palestinian protest at a campus library in May 2025, including probation, one-year to three-year suspensions, degree revocations, and expulsions. University officials characterized this as the largest mass suspension in Columbia's history and the harshest mass disciplinary action by any school since the Gaza war began. The disciplinary action followed the university's adoption of a controversial antisemitism definition that conflates criticism of Israel with antisemitism and the removal of disciplinary authority from the university senate to the provost's office.

Supporting reports

• Columbia University agrees to eliminate race and sex-based hiring in exchange for restored federal funding — After Columbia University agreed to pay $221 million and to promise it will not use "race, color, sex, or national origin" in hiring decisions, the Trump administration restored $1.3 billion in congressionally appropriated funding it had withheld over charges of antisemitism. Education Secretary Linda McMahon characterized the settlement as a "monumental victory for conservatives" seeking to reshape elite campuses by removing "far left leaning professors."
• Columbia University accepts federal funding restoration deal with Trump administration, agreeing to speech restrictions and disciplinary measures — Columbia University reached an agreement with the Trump administration to restore $400 million in federal funds that had been withheld over accusations of antisemitism. The deal requires Columbia to pay $221 million in settlements, codify restrictions on pro-Palestinian speech (including adoption of a controversial antisemitism definition conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism), place an academic department under receivership, restrict protest activities, release admissions data, and submit to federal monitoring. The agreement follows the university's disciplining of approximately 80 students involved in pro-Palestinian protests and sparked divided reactions from faculty, students, and alumni.
• White House issues fact sheet on Columbia University settlement — The White House issued a fact sheet on July 24, 2025, announcing that President Trump secured a settlement with Columbia University to address alleged violations of federal civil rights laws. The settlement includes a $200 million payment to the United States, over $20 million to resolve alleged discrimination against Jewish employees, restrictions on racial discrimination in hiring and admissions, enhanced campus safety measures, reduced reliance on international student enrollment, and establishment of an independent monitor to ensure compliance.

Supporting reports

• New US Visa Rules Require Social Media Access for Foreign Students — The US State Department has announced new visa rules requiring foreign students to unlock their social media profiles for review by US diplomats before receiving educational and exchange visas. This directive, aimed at F, M, and J visa categories, mandates an online presence review to identify any hostility towards US citizens, culture, or institutions. The guidance also includes screening for support of foreign terrorists and antisemitic activities. The Trump administration paused new education visas issuance to develop these vetting strategies, which have been criticized as targeting opposition to Israel's actions in Gaza.
• State Department to Review Visa Applicants' Social Media — The State Department will review social media accounts of individuals applying for student and visiting scholar visas, looking for indications of hostility toward the U.S. Applicants must make accounts public for review.

Supporting reports

• Appeal filed — American Association of University Professors v. United States Department of Justice (S.D.N.Y.) 1:25-cv-02429 — Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil dismissed the case. That day, the Plaintiffs appealed to the Second Circuit.
• Appeal filed — Boyle v. Trump (D. Md.) 8:25-cv-01628 — Defendants appealed Judge Maddox's summary judgment order to the Fourth Circuit.
• Case update — American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO v. Goldstein (S.D.N.Y.) 1:25-cv-03072 — Plaintiffs filed their second amended complaint .
• Case update — Carter v. Department of Education (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00744 — The court stayed the case pending the status of appeals in State of New York v. McMahon , Civil Action No. 25-10601 (D. Mass.) and Somerville Public Schools v. Trump , Civil Action No. 25-10677 (D. Mass.).
• Case update — City of Chicago v. United States Department of Homeland Security (N.D. Ill.) 1:25-cv-05462 — Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint , adding Boston, Denver, San Francisco, and Seattle as plaintiffs. The amended filing described each city's reliance on the Securing the Cities program and the harms from DHS's freeze on 2025 reimbursements and failure to release approved 2024 funds, shifted emphasis from primarily APA claims to a stronger Appropriations Clause theory challenging DHS's withholding of congressionally allocated funds, and stressed the need to restore funding before major events requiring heightened security, including political conventions and national holidays.
• Case update — City of New York v. Trump et al. (S.D.N.Y.) 1:25-cv-01510 — Plaintiff filed their second amended complaint (redline here ).
• Case update — J.G.G. v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00766 — Plaintiffs/Appellees filed their opposition in the D.C. Circuit to the Defendants'/Appellants' emergency motion seeking a stay of Judge Boasberg's June 4 order pending appeal.
• Case update — Northern Alaska Environmental Center v. Trump (D. Alaska) 3:25-cv-00038 — Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint , which added the Conservation Law Foundation as a plaintiff.
• Motion granted — Democracy Forward Foundation v. Department of Education (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00940 — DOE answered Plaintiff's complaint, arguing that Plaintiff failed to state a claim for which relief can be granted, that the court lacks subject matter jurisdiction to grant relief authorized under FOIA, and that Plaintiff is not entitled to compel the release of records properly withheld under FOIA exclusions or exemptions, among other defenses.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Schiff v. U.S. Office of Personnel Management (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-10595 — Defendants filed a motion to dismiss , arguing that Plaintiffs' claims are moot in light of Defendants' compliance with the preliminary injunction order issued on May 23.
• House Judiciary Report on Trump Pardons — Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee released a report estimating that Trump's pardons have cost taxpayers over $1.3 billion in fines and restitution. The report highlights the financial impact of presidential pardons.
• R Kelly's Lawyers File Court Documents Alleging Overdose in Prison — Lawyers for R Kelly have filed new court documents alleging that the singer, who is serving a prison sentence for sex trafficking, was rushed to the hospital after overdosing on medication provided by prison staff. The filing claims that Kelly was placed in solitary confinement on June 10 and given medication with instructions to take it, leading to an overdose on June 13. The documents also allege a plot by Bureau of Prisons officials to have Kelly killed by another inmate, prompting a request for his release to home detention, which federal prosecutors have opposed.
• Case update — Project on Government Oversight, Inc. v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00527 — Defendants filed an unopposed motion before Judge Boasberg seeking clarification or, alternatively, a stay of further proceedings. They argued that under 28 U.S.C. § 2243, no responsive pleading (return) is due in habeas proceedings until the court issues a writ or show-cause order, and that the preliminary-injunction briefing had already served that function. In the alternative, they requested that any requirement to file a return or dispositive motion be stayed until after the D.C. Circuit resolves the appeal of the June 4 order.
• Motion granted — Northern Alaska Environmental Center v. Trump (D. Alaska) 3:25-cv-00038 — Defendants moved to dismiss the complaint or stay proceedings in the alternative.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Harris County Texas v. Robert F Kennedy Jr (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01275 — The court granted State of Alaska's motion to intervene . Judge Sharon Gleason ordered that the State of Alaska be admitted into the case as an intervenor-defendant.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Project on Government Oversight, Inc. v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00527 — Judge Christopher Cooper issued a memorandum opinion that granted in part and denied in part Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction. Judge Cooper granted relief to some of the grants held by four local-government plaintiffs (Harris County, Texas; Columbus, Ohio; Davidson County and Nashville, Tennessee; and Kansas City, Missouri) and decided against granting relief to all terminated grants nationwide. Defendants are enjoined from enforcing or otherwise giving effect to the March 2025 terminations of grants issued directly or indirectly to these four plaintiffs under the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2020, the CARES Act, and the CRRSAA.
• Temporary restraining order ruling — Association of American Universities v. Department of Defense (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-11740 — Judge James E. Boasberg denied Plaintiff's preliminary injunction motion. In the supporting memorandum , Judge Boasberg noted Plaintiff failed to show a likelihood of irreparable harm absent a preliminary injunction.
• Temporary restraining order ruling — National Job Corps Association v. Department of Labor (S.D.N.Y.) 1:25-cv-04641 — The Court granted Plaintiffs' motion for a temporary restraining order, prohibiting the DOD from enforcing the Rate Cap Policy.
• Case update — Association for Education Finance and Policy Inc. v. McMahon (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00999 — Judge Carter extended the temporary restraining order through June 25.
• Case update — CREW v. DOGE (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00511 — Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint . In this amended complaint, plaintiffs removed their ultra vires and Impoundment Act claims. Plaintiffs also added counts specifying the IES terminations and their associated alleged APA violation.
• Case update — Democracy Forward Foundation v. U.S. Department of the Treasury (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00684 — CREW filed a motion for summary disposition with the D.C. Circuit following the Supreme Court's Jun. 6 order.
• Complaint filed — EA T-B v. Bostock — Democracy Forward and the Department of the Treasury filed a joint status report to note the identification of 5,807 potentially responsive documents and the parties' efforts to further narrow Plaintiff's FOIA request to alleviate processing burdens and allow for a more expeditious processing of documents.
• Motion denied — Democracy Forward Foundation v. U.S. Department of Justice (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01535 — Defendants/Appellants filed their reply in support of their emergency motion in the D.C. Circuit to stay Judge Boasberg's June 4 order pending appeal.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — San Francisco Unified School District v. AmeriCorps, a.k.a. the Corporation for National and Community Service (N.D. Cal.) 3:25 — A complaint was filed in the Western District of Washington under the case caption EA T-B v. Bostock, docket number 2:25-cv-01192. The case involves legal challenges related to actions taken by the Trump administration. Further details about the case are forthcoming.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — W.J.C.C. v. Trump (W.D. Pa.) 3:25-cv-00153 — DOJ, DHS, and State Department (Agency Defendants) answered Plaintiff's complaint. The Agency Defendants admitted they received the FOIA requests but denied improperly withholding records from Plaintiff under FOIA.
• Summary judgment ruling — Grundmann v. Trump et al . (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00425 — The court granted Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction, thereby enjoining Defendants from imposing and enforcing new conditions on Plaintiffs' AmeriCorps grants during the pendency of the lawsuit.
• Temporary restraining order ruling — Dvortsin as Next Friend of Hayam El Gamal et al., Petitioner, v. Noem (W.D. Tex.) 5:25-cv-00664 — Judge Stephanie Haines restated her holding in A.S.R. v. Trump , No. 3:25-cv-00113, that the presidential proclamation is a valid exercise of the AEA. Judge Haines, however, granted a preliminary injunction in favor of W.J.C.C., rejecting the government's claim that it could apply shortened notice akin to expedited removal procedures. The court held that the petitioner was entitled to: “(1) twenty-one (21) days' notice and an "opportunity to be heard," (2) notice that clearly articulates the fact that he is subject to removal under the Proclamation and the AEA, (3) notice in English and Spanish, the language of the one sought to be expelled, and if needed, Spanish-to-English interpreters shall be provided for any necessary hearings, and (4) notice of all of the foregoing to his counsel.” The court denied the petitioner's request for a preliminary injunction that would have barred the government from transferring him out of the district.
• Federal Appeals Court Rejects DOJ Representation for Trump — The D.C. Circuit issued an administrative stay of Judge Sparkle's March 12 order granting Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment .
• Federal Judge Blocks Education Department Firings — Judge Orlando Garcia granted a motion to extend the previous temporary restraining order blocking the removal of the family from the district or the United States.
• Federal Judge Blocks EPA Grant Cancellations — A federal appeals court rejected President Trump's request to have Justice Department lawyers represent him in his appeal of E. Jean Carroll's defamation case. The decision maintains the separation between personal and official legal matters.
• Case update — ACLU v. United States Social Security Administration (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01217 — A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from executing mass firings at the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights. The decision prevents potential disruptions to civil rights enforcement.
• Stay pending appeal decided — Newsom v. Trump (N.D. Cal.) 3:25-cv-04870 — A federal judge blocked the EPA's cancellation of $600 million in environmental justice grants issued during the Biden administration. The ruling protects funding for underserved communities.
• Federal Judge Blocks Transportation Grant Conditions — Defendant Agencies answered Plaintiff's complaint. These agencies admitted that they failed to respond to Plaintiff's FOIA request, but provided several defenses to Plaintiff's action, including alleging Plaintiff is not entitled to compel the production of records under FOIA, the court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over Plaintiff's requests, and that they did not improperly withhold the records Plaintiff requested under FOIA.
• Appeal filed — Mahmoud Khalil v. William P. Joyce et al. (D.N.J.) 2:25-cv-01963 — The Ninth Circuit granted the federal government a stay pending appeal .
• Motion denied — Darwin Antonio Arevalo Millan v. Trump (C.D. Cal.) 5:25-cv-01207 — A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from tying federal transportation grant funding to immigration enforcement cooperation. The ruling protects states' rights to manage their own policies.
• Motion granted — J.G.G. v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00766 — Judge Farbiarz ordered Mahmoud Khalil, who is currently detained by federal immigration authorities in Louisiana, be released from custody. On that same day, the government appealed Judge Farbiarz's June 11 order granting a preliminary injunction to the Third Circuit. Note: Mahmoud Khalil submitted a notice of claim under the Federal Tort Claims Act, seeking $20 million in damages from the administration for his detention. The notice alleges that Khalil's arrest and prolonged confinement were the result of discriminatory intent by Secretary Rubio, and that his treatment-including prolonged solitary confinement and denial of medical care-constituted multiple tortious acts by federal officers.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — American Federation of Government Employees, et al. v. Office of Personnel Management et al (S.D.N.Y.) 1:25-cv-01237 — Judge Holcomb denied petitioners' ex parte application for a writ of habeas corpus, noting petitioner's detention remains permissible under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) because of the government's intention to appeal the grant of relief in petitioner's removal proceedings (since petitioners can remain in custody pending such appeals).
• Preliminary injunction ruling — American Foreign Service Association v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01030 — Judge Boasberg granted the Defendants unopposed motion for clarification, confirming that the Defendants does not need to take further action in the district court until the D.C. Circuit issues its mandate in the appeal of his June 4 order.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — American Oversight v. Hegseth (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00883 — In connection with the June 9 preliminary injunction order, Judge Cote ordered OPM to file a report within two weeks describing the procedures put in place since March 6, to ensure adherence to the requirements of the Privacy Act with respect to new grant of access permissions by OPM to records containing Plaintiffs' personally identifiable information (PII). Judge Cote also ordered OPM to file a report within four weeks concerning OPM's grant of access permissions to any records containing Plaintiffs' PII made to DOGE personnel.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Open Technology Fund v. Kari Lake (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00840 — The D.C. Circuit en banc stayed the preliminary injunction order pending appeal.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — President and Fellows of Harvard College v. Department of Homeland Security (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-11472 — Judge Boasberg granted in part and denied in part the Plaintiff's motion for a preliminary injunction, granting a narrower relief by requiring that Defendants perform their mandatory notification and referral obligations, as explained in its accompanying memorandum opinion .
• Stay motion decided — State of New York v. United States Department of Education (S.D.N.Y.) 1:25-cv-02990 — Judge Royce Lamberth granted Plaintiff's preliminary injunction motion, thereby enjoining Defendants from withholding congressionally appropriated funds under the grant agreement for Fiscal Year 2024 between USAGM and OTF.
• Summary judgment ruling — Association of American Universities v. National Science Foundation (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-11231 — Judge Burroughs issued a preliminary injunction barring that administration from banning Harvard from participating in the State Department's Student and Visitor Exchange Program.
• Federal Judge Blocks Harvard Student Ban — The Second Circuit denied Defendants' motion to stay the district court's order, finding DOE's actions likely arbitrary and capricious under the APA-without any particularized assessment and insufficiently attentive to reliance interests-and concluding that a stay would substantially injure the plaintiff States.
• Federal Judge Orders Release of Mahmoud Khalil — The court granted Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment. Implementation of the 15% Indirect Cost Rate is vacated and declared invalid, arbitrary and capricious, and contrary to law. The court further ordered that within 72 hours of entry of this order, Defendants provide written notice of the order to all funding recipients affected by the 15% Indirect Cost Rate.
• — A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from prohibiting Harvard University from admitting international students. The ruling prevents the implementation of a plan to remove the school from the Student and Visitor Exchange Program.
• — A federal judge ordered the release of Mahmoud Khalil from ICE detention on bail, citing concerns that his detention was used as punishment for his activism. Khalil is a Palestinian green card holder involved in student protests.

Supporting reports

• ICE arrests immigrants for pro-Palestine speech — The Trump administration has targeted immigrants for their pro-Palestine speech, resulting in arrests by ICE. Individuals such as Mahmoud Khalil, a legal permanent resident, were detained for participating in protests or expressing support for Palestine. These actions highlight the administration's use of immigration enforcement to suppress political speech.
• USCIS to surveil immigrants' social media for "antisemitic activity" — USCIS announced it would begin monitoring immigrants' social media for "antisemitic activity," potentially affecting visa applications. This policy, based on executive orders, could result in the revocation of visas for pro-Palestine statements, raising concerns about free speech and privacy.
• State Department revokes visas of students involved in pro-Palestine protests — The State Department has revoked the visas of at least 800 international students, many of whom participated in pro-Palestine protests. This action, partially blocked by a federal judge, reflects the administration's efforts to suppress dissent by targeting foreign students involved in political activism.
• Judge rules Trump administration cannot detain Mahmoud Khalil as a foreign policy threat — A federal judge, Michael E. Farbiarz, ruled that the Trump administration can no longer detain Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and Palestinian activist, on claims that he is a threat to US foreign policy. The ruling, which will take effect on Friday, allows time for an appellate review. Khalil, who has not been charged with a crime, was detained in March after being deemed a threat by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. However, the judge noted that Khalil could still be held for allegedly inaccurately filling out his green card application.
• Case update — Mahmoud Khalil v. William P. Joyce et al. (D.N.J.) 2:25-cv-01963 — Judge Farbiarz blocked the Trump administration from deporting pro-Palestinian Columbia University protest organizer Mahmoud Khalil, ruling that the government's effort to deport Khalil by arguing his presence would “have serious adverse foreign policy consequences” chills Khalil's First Amdendment Rights.

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• Kristi Noem makes baseless claims about Harvard — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed on Fox News that Harvard University is perpetuating Chinese Communist Party priorities and accused students of feeding information back to China.

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• Trump suspends Harvard from student visa program — Trump signed a proclamation suspending Harvard University from the student visa program, effectively banning international students from attending the school.

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• Trump administration crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests — The Trump administration has intensified its crackdown on universities and is detaining and attempting to deport students involved in pro-Palestinian protests, citing the need to combat antisemitism. This move has been criticized as a weaponization of antisemitism to justify anti-immigrant policies. The administration's actions have sparked debates about free speech, protest rights, and the balance between security and civil liberties.

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• Trump signs proclamation to restrict foreign student visas at Harvard — On June 4, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation to restrict foreign student visas at Harvard University. The order suspends the entry of foreign nationals seeking to study or participate in exchange programs at Harvard for six months, citing national security concerns. The proclamation also directs the State Department to consider revoking visas of current Harvard students who meet the criteria. This move is part of the administration's ongoing conflict with Harvard, which has included freezing grants and threatening to end its tax-exempt status.

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• Case update — President and Fellows of Harvard College v. Department of Homeland Security (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-11472 — President Donald Trump issued a new Proclamation titled “Enhancing National Security by Addressing Risks at Harvard University” that suspends entry of foreign nationals who plan to attend Harvard University. On June 5, the Plaintiff filed a motion for a TRO with a memorandum .

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• Arrest of international student for political speech — In recent weeks, masked officers arrested an international student, Rümeysa Öztürk, who had co-authored a campus newspaper op-ed about Gaza. The arrest took place on the street and was conducted by immigration agents who concealed their identities. This incident has raised concerns about the suppression of political speech and the treatment of immigrants in the United States.

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• Summary judgment ruling — President and Fellows of Harvard College v. US Department of Health and Human Services (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-11048 — President and Fellows of Harvard College filed a motion for summary judgment, arguing that the Court should grant summary judgment to Harvard, vacate and set aside the Government's unlawful freeze and termination of Harvard's funding, and permanently enjoin any similar action such as the termination of other contracts.

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• Trump Administration Orders Social Media Screening for Harvard Visitors — The Trump administration has mandated that US consulates worldwide conduct mandatory social media screenings for all visa applicants intending to visit Harvard University. This directive, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, requires enhanced vetting of students, faculty, staff, and other visitors to Harvard, viewing private social media accounts as potential signs of evasiveness. The policy, part of a pilot program, is linked to concerns about antisemitism on campus and aims to identify applicants with histories of antisemitic behavior. The directive is part of broader actions against elite universities, including stripping Harvard of research funding.

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• Trump administration pauses foreign student visa interviews — The Trump administration ordered U.S. embassies and consulates to pause scheduling new interviews for foreign student visa applicants, potentially slowing down the visa processing system.
• Trump administration halts student visa interviews at US embassies — The Trump administration has issued a directive to US embassies worldwide to stop scheduling visa interviews for foreign students. This move is part of a broader plan to implement comprehensive social media screening for all international applicants. The directive, communicated via a state department cable, instructs consular sections to pause adding any additional student or exchange visitor visa appointment capacity until further guidance is provided. This action could significantly delay visa processing and impact universities that depend on foreign students for revenue.
• Trump Administration Pauses Visa Interviews for Foreign Students — The Trump administration has paused all visa interviews for foreign students seeking to study in the United States. This measure is intended to allow time to establish a procedure for vetting prospective students' social media accounts. The pause effectively halts the application process for new international students, impacting their ability to study in the U.S. The administration's actions are part of a broader strategy to limit foreign student enrollment, which includes previous attempts to restrict international students at institutions like Harvard University.

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• Trump cuts ties with Harvard — The Trump administration ordered all federal agencies to sever ties with Harvard University and revoke existing contracts and grants, totaling around $100 million.
• Trump orders federal agencies to cut ties with Harvard — The Trump administration has directed federal agencies to cancel all government contracts with Harvard University, totaling an estimated $100 million. This directive, issued by the General Service Administration (GSA), affects contracts across nine federal departments and is part of a broader effort by the administration to sever ties with the university. The administration cites alleged race discrimination and a lack of concern for Jewish students' safety as reasons for the action. Harvard has responded by filing multiple lawsuits, arguing that the administration's actions violate constitutional protections for academic freedom.

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• Trump Administration Revokes Harvard's Privilege to Enroll Foreign Students — The Trump administration informed Harvard University that it had lost the privilege to enroll foreign students due to the university's failure to provide information on foreign students' protest activities and coursework. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem stated this decision aimed to enforce the law against anti-Americanism and antisemitism. In response, Harvard filed a lawsuit claiming the action violated the First Amendment and due process rights, leading to a temporary restraining order from Judge Allison Burroughs to prevent the policy from taking effect.

Supporting reports

• Trump criticizes Harvard for foreign student enrollment — Trump criticized Harvard University for its high percentage of foreign students, demanding transparency regarding their funding and enrollment, which he claims is a misuse of taxpayer dollars.
• Trump Administration Seeks List of Harvard's Foreign Students — President Trump criticized Harvard University for admitting too many international students and expressed a desire for a list of these students, which the Department of Homeland Security already has access to through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) database. Earlier, DHS terminated Harvard’s SEVP certification.