Latest news with #ExecutiveOrder14188
Epoch Times
07-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Columbia University Lays Off Nearly 180 Staff After Federal Grant Revocations
Columbia University announced on Tuesday that it will lay off nearly 180 staff members after the Trump administration revoked more than $400 million in federal research funding, Columbia's Office of the President said in a May 6 statement. The layoffs, which represent about 20 percent of university employees who were funded by the now-terminated federal grants, come as Columbia grapples with the fallout from the U.S. Department of Education's decision to cancel hundreds of millions in grants and contracts. The department cited the university's alleged failure to adequately address persistent anti-Semitism on campus as the reason for the funding withdrawal. In a message to the Columbia community, acting President Claire Shipman, Provost Angela V. Olinto, Executive Vice President for Finance Anne Sullivan, and Executive Vice President for Research Jeannette Wing described the decision as 'deeply challenging' and 'Across the research portfolio, we have had to make difficult choices and unfortunately, today, nearly 180 of our colleagues who have been working, in whole or in part, on impacted federal grants, will receive notices of non-renewal or termination,' the statement read. The university said it has been engaged in a two-pronged effort in response to the funding crisis. First, it is working to restore partnerships with federal agencies that support critical research. Second, it has asked deans and principal investigators to prioritize research activities and develop plans for managing projects affected by the loss of federal support. Related Stories 5/6/2025 5/5/2025 During the review period, Columbia continued to pay salaries and stipends for those whose compensation had been covered by the terminated grants, according to the press release. Columbia's leadership said they are continuing discussions with federal officials in hopes of resuming activity on the canceled research awards and other projects that remain active but unpaid. They said the financial strain is 'intense,' and the university has been forced to reduce expenditures and scale back research infrastructure in some areas. Some departments are winding down activity but are prepared to reestablish capabilities if funding is restored, according to the university. The funding revocation follows President Donald Trump's Executive Order 14188, signed on Jan. 29, which directs federal agencies to use all available legal tools to prosecute and hold accountable those accused of anti-Semitic harassment and violence on college campuses. The Department of Education launched investigations into several universities, including Columbia, where 'widespread antisemitic harassment has been reported.' 'Universities must comply with all federal anti-discrimination laws if they are going to receive federal funding. For too long, Columbia has abandoned that obligation to Jewish students studying on its campus,' Secretary of Education Linda McMahon The Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, which includes the departments of Justice, Health and Human Services, Education, and the General Services Administration, has been reviewing Columbia's compliance with federal regulations, particularly under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in federally funded programs. In response to the crisis, Columbia has established a Research Stabilization Fund to help mitigate future funding risks and support its scientific community. The fund will provide internal grants to scientists seeking alternate sources of funding or completing research for publication. The university will also contribute funds to support graduate students and postdoctoral fellows affected by the loss of federal training grants, according to the press release. 'We are grateful for the exceptional leadership and professionalism of our deans, chairs, and senior management who have come together to navigate this critical moment with care and integrity, while upholding and advancing Columbia's mission, values, and the unique qualities that make this a vital, extraordinary place,' the statement said. The university warned that further actions may be necessary in the coming months to preserve financial flexibility and invest in key areas.
Newsweek
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Donald Trump's Student Visa Crackdown Hits Ohio Roadblock
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A federal judge in Columbus has granted a temporary restraining order in favor of an Ohio State University graduate whose student visa was terminated by President Donald Trump's administration. Why It Matters Immigration is a cornerstone of White House policy agenda. Over a thousand foreign students have had their visas revoked since Trump returned to office. The administration has revoked visas of international students alleged to have been involved in pro-Palestinian activism on college campuses. This action stems from Executive Order 14188, signed in early 2025, which aims to combat antisemitism. However, critics argue the administration is leveraging the order to stifle free speech. People walk up to the Ohio State University's student union on May 18, 2019, in Columbus. People walk up to the Ohio State University's student union on May 18, 2019, in Columbus. John Minchillo/AP What To Know On Tuesday, April 22, U.S. District Court Judge Algenon L. Marbley of the Southern District of Ohio granted a temporary restraining order in favor of Prasanna Oruganti, an international graduate student from India pursuing a Ph.D. in agricultural engineering. The ruling directs U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons to reinstate Oruganti's F-1 student visa. It also prohibits both federal agencies from taking any further action related to the visa termination, including detention or initiating deportation proceedings, according to the court order. Oruganti filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Noem and Lyons on April 16, challenging the termination of her student visa. The termination of the visa jeopardizes her ability to continue working at the university, puts her monthly stipend at risk, and could ultimately result in deportation. According to the court ruling granting the temporary restraining order, Oruganti works in the Department of Food, Agriculture, and Biomedical Engineering as part of her doctoral program. The government argued that Oruganti's visa was revoked because she was identified in a criminal background check, which they claimed violated her F-1 status. However, Oruganti countered that the so-called "criminal history" stems from a June 2020 guilty plea to a minor misdemeanor—a defective equipment charge from a driving incident in Missouri. She paid a $300 fine for the offense. Oruganti is among at least 12 Ohio State students whose visas have been revoked or terminated in recent weeks by the Trump administration. Another OSU graduate student, Ph.D. candidate Ahwar Sultan, filed a federal lawsuit on April 16, claiming the administration targeted him for his involvement in pro-Palestine protests that took place at the university in April 2024. In court filings on April 21, Andre Watson, assistant director of the National Security Division for Homeland Security Investigations, stated that Sultan's visa was terminated due to his arrest on April 25, 2024, for participating in pro-Palestine protests. As part of the case, Sultan was required to complete 10 hours of community service and attend a workshop on civil discourse, both of which he completed promptly, according to the court filings. "Ms. Oruganti is one of hundreds, if not more, of students nationwide whose record and F-1 status in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information Systems (SEVIS) database1 was abruptly terminated by ICE the week of April 7, 2025," court documents read. More than 1,500 student visas have been revoked as part of Trump's crackdown on immigrants engaged in political activism, according to data reported by Inside Higher Ed. Meanwhile, a federal judge in Georgia has ordered ICE to restore the legal status of 133 students whose F-1 visas were revoked, leaving them at risk of deportation. On Friday, Judge Victoria M. Calvert of the state's Northern District issued a temporary restraining order against the government, preventing further action being taken to revoke the students' visas. The order, which will remain in effect for 14 days, required the administration to restore the visas by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22. Newsweek has contacted the Northern District Court and DHS via email to inquire whether the visas were restored. What People Are Saying Prasanna Oruganti's attorney Emily Brown said: "[The Trump administration] is [revoking visas] for similarly baseless reasons, and we hope that they will cease their illegal action." What Happens Next A preliminary injunction hearing for Oruganti's case is scheduled for May 8.
Newsweek
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Judge Slams Homeland Security Over Revoked Student Visas: 'Clearly is BS'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A federal judge has launched a scathing attack on President Donald Trump's administration over the confusion created by revoking student visas. Why It Matters Immigration is a cornerstone of Trump's policy agenda. Republicans are planning to enact large-scale mass deportations as they look to remove millions of undocumented immigrants from the country. Stock image of the Department of Homeland Security seal. Stock image of the Department of Homeland Security seal. Chip Somodevilla/Getty What To Know The White House has begun revoking visas for international students allegedly involved in pro-Palestinian activism on campuses. The action stems from Executive Order 14188, signed in early 2025, which aims to crack down on antisemitism. However, critics argue that the order is being used to silence protected speech, with visa revocations tied to students who participated in peaceful protests or distributed materials like flyers. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is using AI-powered tools to scan international students' social media for any content interpreted as anti-Israel or supportive of designated groups like Hamas. A recent federal court hearing captured the deep confusion surrounding the government's handling of student visa revocations. In a Michigan court last week, DHS said that it does not have the authority to revoke a student's immigration status solely by terminating their record in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). The Trump administration said that changes to a SEVIS record, such as indicating a student is no longer enrolled, do not automatically impact the student's lawful nonimmigrant status. SEVIS is a federal database maintained by Homeland Security that tracks and monitors international students, exchange visitors, and their dependents while in the United States. Universities and program sponsors must regularly update the system with information such as enrollment status, address changes, and program completion. While it plays a vital role in overseeing visa compliance, the government's position in court has raised new questions about how much legal weight SEVIS designations carry. Many hundreds of students who have had their SEVIS records terminated by DHS in recent weeks were informed by their schools or the government that they have lost their immigration status and must leave the country immediately. Andre Watson, assistant director of the national security division for Homeland Security Investigations wrote in a court filing, "Terminating a record in SEVIS does not terminate an individual's nonimmigrant status in the United States." On Wednesday, District Court Judge Ana Reyes in Washington D.C., ordered Watson to testify in court regarding the claims made in his declaration, which the government had also submitted in the case filed by students. Reyes openly criticized federal attorneys for creating a legal scenario so convoluted that no one—not the student's lawyers, the court, or even the government—could confirm whether the student was in the country legally. The case involved an international student removed from his academic program just months before graduation. Government lawyers insisted the termination didn't affect his immigration status, but couldn't provide any clarity when pressed. Calling the situation "Kafkaesque," Reyes pointed out that even seasoned immigration attorneys were not able to advise their clients because no one—not even the court—could make sense of the system. The judge's blunt remarks quickly went viral, drawing widespread attention to the legal uncertainty facing many international students under the administration's hard-line agenda and constantly shifting policies. "I've got two experienced immigration lawyers on behalf of a client who is months away from graduation, who has done nothing wrong, who has been terminated from a system that you all keep telling me has no effect on his immigration status, although that clearly is BS," Reyes said. "And now, his two very experienced lawyers can't even tell him whether or not he's here legally, because the court can't tell him whether or not he's here legally, because the government's counsel can't tell him if he's here legally." Many universities, fearing federal repercussions, initially advised students to leave the country after being notified of their visa revocations. Now, some of those same students are being told they might have been able to stay. Schools are struggling to respond to the legal uncertainty and lack of clear guidance from DHS. There is growing concern that institutions could be decertified from hosting international students altogether, a move that would severely impact both academic diversity and cripple finances. More than 1,500 student visas have been revoked as part of Trump's crackdown on immigrants involved in political activism, according to data from Inside Higher Ed. What People Are Saying Émile P. Torres, an American philosopher, intellectual historian, and activist, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter: "Four students at Case Western Reserve University—my university—were told that their visas had been revoked and that they will need to leave the country, while the semester is still going. Now, turns out, they don't! What a complete sh**show." Sasha Gusev, associate professor at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute said in a post on X: "This has to be one of the craziest admissions from A JUDGE that I've ever seen in a court transcript. What the hell are we doing here?!" What Happens Next With legal uncertainty hanging over affected students, immigration attorneys are scrambling to provide clarity. Some universities are reviewing their handling of Immigration and Customs Enforcement communication, while civil rights groups are preparing challenges to the administration's moves.
