The President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced that agitators will be imprisoned or permanently sent back to their home countries, while American students could be expelled or arrested, depending on their actions. These measures respond to the protests that took place on university campuses across the country in April 2024 against the war in Gaza and Washington's support for Israel.
Amidst these demonstrations, which led to the detention of approximately 3,100 people, Trump signed an executive order at the end of January to toughen the stance against the pro-Palestinian movement, which he labeled "pro-jihadist." The aim is to identify foreign students who participated in the protests to deport them and cancel the visas of those he considers "Hamas sympathizers."
The students involved in the protests have denied supporting Hamas or engaging in anti-Semitic acts. They argue that their intention was to protest against the Israeli military offensive in Gaza, where over 47,000 people have lost their lives.
In turn, Harvard University has announced a temporary pause in hiring staff and professors due to the threat of federal funding cuts from Trump's government. Harvard is one of several universities under investigation for alleged failure to address anti-Semitism on campus.
The government has already announced the cancellation of $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University, citing complaints from Jewish students since the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023. Harvard's president, Alan Garber, has expressed the need to prepare for various financial circumstances and limit long-term commitments that could increase the financial exposure of the institution.
Trump's threat to cut funding to schools or higher education institutions that allow illegal protests adds to his hardline stance against those he considers detractors of his policies.
