12 Columbia Professors and Students Are Arrested at Anti-ICE Protest

Twelve professors and students from Columbia University were arrested by New York Police Department officers on Broadway in Upper Manhattan during a Tuesday afternoon protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The demonstration was organized to demand that university administrators implement more robust protections for international students who might face deportation or harassment under federal immigration policies. By blocking one of the city's busiest thoroughfares, the activists sought to draw immediate attention to the perceived vulnerability of the university's non-citizen community members. The protest began as a peaceful assembly on the Morningside Heights campus before moving toward the street, where participants linked arms to disrupt traffic. Witnesses reported that the demonstrators carried banners calling for Columbia to become a "sanctuary campus," a designation that would limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. University security and local law enforcement warned the group to clear the roadway multiple times before taking the twelve individuals into custody on charges ranging from disorderly conduct to obstructing government administration. This civil disobedience comes amid a period of heightened tension over immigration enforcement within academic circles nationwide. Faculty members involved in the protest emphasized that international students contribute significantly to the university's research and culture but often live in fear of sudden policy shifts that could revoke their visas. The organizers argued that the institution has a moral obligation to use its legal and financial resources to shield its diverse student population from aggressive federal interventions. In response to the arrests, a spokesperson for Columbia University reiterated the school's commitment to supporting its international community but noted that university policy prohibits the disruption of public infrastructure. The incident reflects a growing trend of direct action by academic figures who believe that traditional lobbying efforts are insufficient to protect student rights in the current political climate. The arrested individuals were processed at a local precinct and released later that evening.