Introduction to the Crisis
The Trump administration on Monday sent letters to 60 colleges and universities — 10 of them in California — warning of “potential enforcement” against them, days after canceling $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University and accusing it of ignoring antisemitism allegations. “We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, antisemitic, anti-American activity,” Trump wrote in a social media post. “We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country — never to return again.”
UCLA’s Initiative Against Antisemitism
Also Monday, UCLA announced a new campuswide initiative to combat antisemitism, with Chancellor Julio Frenk saying the university is at an “inflection point” that compels it to “end hate however it manifests itself.” UCLA was not among the California universities that received the Education Department letter, but it is under multiple federal investigations by the Trump administration into alleged anti-Jewish incidents.
Reactions from Pro-Palestinian Groups
Pro-Palestinian students, staff and faculty accused UCLA of prioritizing efforts to tackle antisemitism while avoiding equal focus on reports of racism and bias against Arab Americans, Palestinian Americans and Muslim Americans, saying the university was overreacting in fear of the Trump administration’s threats to cut funding. Roughly $1.1 billion of UCLA’s $11 billion budget comes from federal sources.
University Response
UCLA officials denied the allegation, saying the university is working to address all reports of discrimination and has been planning its antisemitism initiative since January, but was delayed by the Los Angeles fires, which briefly prompted classes to go online. UCLA has aided in recovery by allowing FEMA to use an expansive Westside property for a disaster recovery center.
Nationwide Impact
U.S. universities, many roiled by protests last spring, are on alert as the Trump administration threatens to yank federal funding and crack down on campus demonstrations against Israel that erupted after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack in southern Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza. After immigration authorities over the weekend detained a Palestinian activist who helped lead antiwar protests at Columbia, Trump warned Monday that the man’s possible deportation was the first of “many to come.”
Detention of Palestinian Activist
The detained activist, Mahmoud Khalil, is a lawful U.S. resident and was a Columbia student until December. He is accused of supporting Hamas, which the U.S. labels as a terrorist group. His lawyer said that he was legally protesting U.S. foreign policy and that his client is being used to make a political point against free speech. A federal judge in New York City ordered Monday that Khalil not be deported while the court considered a legal challenge brought by his lawyers. A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.
Campus Protests and Warnings
The detention has alarmed college administrators across the country, who faced criticism for calling riot police on student protesters last year and generally avoided pressing for criminal charges against pro-Palestinian activists. Demonstrators had called for campuses to divest from weapons companies or connections to Israel, including study abroad programs. Many foreign students, including those at UCLA and USC, took part in protests — although the numbers are not known. At UCLA, the Dashew Center, a hub for international students, issued a warning this year during a webinar to avoid protest activities that could be deemed illegal. Similar warnings have been issued at USC.
Upcoming Demonstrations
On Tuesday, Students for Justice in Palestine and Graduate Students for Justice in Palestine — groups that were suspended last month at UCLA for protesting and vandalism at a regent’s home — plan to demonstrate on Royce Quad in Westwood. “Hands off our students. No ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] at UCLA,” social media ads for the demonstration said.
University Policies on Immigration
The UC system has a policy of complying with federal immigration regulations but not using its police to “undertake other joint efforts with federal, state or local law enforcement agencies, to investigate, detain or arrest individuals for violation of federal immigration law.”
California Campuses Respond to Warning Letter
The Department of Education letter on Monday singled out several California campuses for financial actions similar to those against Columbia. They included four UCs — San Diego, Santa Barbara, Berkeley and Davis — as well as USC, Pomona College, Stanford, Chapman University, Santa Monica College and Sacramento State. A UC spokeswoman said the university system was “aware” of the letters from the Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights about antisemitism.
University Commitments
“We want to be clear: the University of California is unwavering in its commitment to combating antisemitism and protecting the civil rights of all our students, faculty, staff, and visitors,” said Senior Director of Strategic and Critical Communications Rachel Zaentz. “We continue to take specific steps to foster an environment free of antisemitism and other forms of discrimination and harassment for everyone in the university community.” In a statement, USC said that it has “publicly and unequivocally denounced antisemitism in all its forms, and has taken strong actions to protect all of our students — including members of our Jewish community — from illegal discrimination of any kind.
What UCLA is Doing
At UCLA — where a vigilante group attacked encampment demonstrators last spring amid the failure of police to quickly stop the violence — the new initiative will build upon recommendations made in October by a task force on antisemitism and anti-Israel bias. They include “enhancing relevant training and education, improving the complaint system, assuring enforcement of current and new laws and policies, and cooperating with stakeholders,” Frenk said in his announcement.
Community Reactions
Some of the newly announced UCLA efforts are similar to University of California agreements made in December to settle several civil rights complaints with the Department of Education. Those complaints centered on campuses in L.A., Santa Barbara, San Diego, Davis and Santa Cruz. Frenk’s announcement Monday elicited praise from some members of UCLA’s Jewish community. But members of UCLA’s Task Force on Anti-Palestinian, Anti-Muslim, and Anti-Arab Racism, formed around the same time as the university’s antisemitism task force, said UCLA was not doing enough to address hatred against those communities.
Conclusion
The situation at UCLA and other universities across the country highlights the complexities and challenges of balancing the need to combat antisemitism with the need to protect free speech and address racism and bias against all communities. As the Trump administration continues to threaten federal funding and crack down on campus demonstrations, universities must navigate these complex issues while ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all students.
FAQs
- Q: What prompted UCLA to launch its antisemitism initiative?
A: UCLA launched its initiative in response to alleged anti-Jewish incidents and federal investigations, as well as a broader national context of increased tensions and protests related to Israel and Palestine. - Q: How does UCLA’s initiative address antisemitism?
A: The initiative includes enhancing training and education, improving the complaint system, enforcing laws and policies, and cooperating with stakeholders. - Q: What is the reaction from pro-Palestinian groups?
A: Pro-Palestinian groups accuse UCLA of prioritizing antisemitism over addressing racism and bias against Arab Americans, Palestinian Americans, and Muslim Americans. - Q: What is the Trump administration’s role in this issue?
A: The Trump administration has threatened to cut federal funding to universities that do not adequately address antisemitism and has detained a Palestinian activist who led antiwar protests at Columbia, warning of more deportations to come.
