Federal agents with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) executed search warrants at two Columbia University student residences on Thursday night, days after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested anti-Israel activist Mahomoud Khalil at an off-campus apartment.

Columbia University Interim President Katrina Armstrong confirmed the searches in a statement to the university community, noting that no arrests were made and no items were taken during the operation.

“Federal agents from the DHS served Columbia University with two judicial search warrants signed by a federal magistrate judge authorizing DHS to enter non-public areas of the University and conduct searches of two student rooms,” Armstrong said.

She added that the university has a set protocol regarding law enforcement access to campus buildings and followed its longstanding practice of requiring a judicial warrant before allowing federal agents entry into non-public areas, including residential buildings.

Here's What They're Not Telling You About Your Retirement

MORE NEWS: Rubio Delivers a Patriotic Knockout With His America 250 Message [WATCH]

Armstrong emphasized that the university was legally obligated to comply with the warrants.

“I understand the immense stress our community is under,” she said, before reaffirming Columbia’s commitment to academic freedom, due process, and the rule of law.

The searches came after ICE agents arrested Khalil, a Palestinian activist and green card holder, on Saturday at his Columbia-owned apartment.

Khalil, who is married to an American citizen, has been at the center of disruptive and at times violent anti-Israel protests at Columbia University and Barnard College.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

Following recent reports that Congress is considering a nationwide voter ID requirement for federal elections, do you support requiring voters to show identification before casting a ballot?

By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from LifeZette, occasional offers from our partners and that you've read and agree to our privacy policy and legal statement.

Khalil is a leader of Columbia United Apartheid Divest, a student organization that has aligned itself with groups sympathetic to Hamas and Hezbollah and has called for the "end of Western civilization."

The group was involved in the takeover of Columbia’s Hamilton Hall last April, an incident that escalated into violence.

The Trump administration is seeking Khalil’s deportation over his role in the protests, citing national security concerns.

He is currently being held in a Louisiana detention facility as he fights the deportation order.

Close

MORE NEWS: Michigan Wolverines Keep Brandon McCoy Jr. After Dusty May Departure

On Monday, a judge temporarily blocked any immediate attempts to remove him from the country.

Khalil’s arrest comes amid heightened scrutiny of Columbia University by the federal government.

Last week, President Donald Trump announced the revocation of $400 million in federal grants and contracts from the Ivy League institution, arguing that the university failed to protect Jewish students from harassment and discrimination.

Following the DHS searches, protests erupted in New York.

On Thursday, demonstrators flooded Trump Tower, demanding Khalil’s release. The protest ended in multiple arrests as police dispersed the crowd.

Vice President JD Vance indicated Thursday that Khalil’s case is just the beginning of a broader effort by the Trump administration to revoke student visas and green cards of individuals involved in extremist activities.

“This is not fundamentally about free speech, and to me, yes, it’s about national security, but it’s also more importantly about who do we as an American public decide gets to join our national community,” Vance told Fox News host Laura Ingraham on The Ingraham Angle.

“And if the secretary of state and the president decided this person shouldn’t be in America, and they have no legal right to stay here, it’s as simple as that. I think we’ll certainly see some people who get deported on student visas if we determine that it’s not in the best interest of the United States to have them in our country.”

MORE NEWS: Spencer Pratt Torches Communism and Zohran Mamdani in Explosive Independence Day Message [WATCH]

The Trump administration has signaled that it will continue investigating foreign nationals linked to radical protests and extremist activity, particularly on college campuses.

Columbia University, now at the center of federal scrutiny, is facing increasing pressure over its handling of anti-Israel activism on campus.

The Real MOU: What Trump’s Iran Agreement Actually Says – Truth Thursday | EP 677

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.