In light of previous protests, Columbia has enacted strict measures, including sanctions and restrictions on demonstrations, influenced by pressure from the Trump Administration.

Mayor Eric Adams reiterated the city's commitment to peaceful protest while condemning any lawlessness, assuring Jewish students at Columbia of their safety.

Representative Rubio expressed hope that authorities would eventually run out of students to revoke visas from, as they continue to search for those he refers to as 'lunatics.'

The crackdown on international students has previously led to the revocation of legal status for over 1,800 foreign students in recent months, raising concerns among higher education institutions.

During the incident, Deputy Mayor Kaz Daughtry reported that approximately 60 to 70 individuals were taken into custody.

NYPD officers were called to Columbia University to remove masked protesters who occupied the main library, displaying Palestinian flags and defacing property.

The protest coincided with a congressional hearing on antisemitism on college campuses, where university presidents faced scrutiny over their handling of such issues.

Student organizers, including Jewish activists, argue that conflating pro-Palestinian activism with antisemitism is unjust and politically motivated.

The protest was also marked by the U.S. Justice Department's announcement of hate-crime charges against Tarek Bazrouk, a 20-year-old linked to prior pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

Bazrouk faces multiple assault charges related to violent acts at protests, including attacks on individuals associated with Israeli identity.

Critics have interpreted the university's willingness to revise its policies as a capitulation to government demands.

In response to the crackdown, student protesters argue that the conflation of their activism with antisemitism is a politically motivated attack on free speech.