DHS agents search two students' rooms at Columbia University, leaving interim president 'heartbroken'

Homeland Security agents conducted searches successful a brace of students' rooms astatine Columbia University connected Thursday, resulting successful Katrina Armstrong, the interim president of the school, sharing that she was "heartbroken" successful an update to the field community.

"I americium penning heartbroken to pass you that we had national agents from the Department of Homeland Security successful 2 University residences tonight," she wrote. "No 1 was arrested oregon detained. No items were removed, and nary further enactment was taken."

The DHS agents served Columbia with 2 judicial hunt warrants signed by a national magistrate judge, which met the university's requirements for instrumentality enforcement to participate non-public areas.

Details surrounding the rooms searched and the intent of the hunt were not instantly available.

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PUNISHES STUDENTS WHO TOOK OVER BUILDING DURING ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTS 

Columbia University's interim President Katrina Armstrong shared successful a missive to the school's assemblage Thursday nighttime that she was "heartbroken" by Homeland Security agents searching 2 students' rooms connected campus. (AP )

"The University is obligated to comply with the law," Armstrong said, successful part. "Our University Public Safety was contiguous astatine each times."

She added that Columbia volition "make each effort" to guarantee the field and everyone connected it is safe, adding that the schoolhouse is "committed to upholding the law" and she expects "city, authorities and national agencies to bash the same."

"I recognize the immense accent our assemblage is under. Despite the unprecedented challenges, Columbia University volition stay a spot wherever the pursuit of cognition is cherished and fiercely protected, wherever the regularisation of instrumentality and owed process is respected and ne'er taken for granted, and wherever each members of our assemblage are valued and capable to thrive. These are the principles we uphold and that usher america each day," Armstrong said.

Columbia University was rocked by anti-Israel protests for astir of 2024 arsenic students and different participants protested Israel's warfare successful Gaza prompted by Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, onslaught connected the Jewish State. (Getty Images)

The searches travel little than a week aft anti-Israel agitator Mahmoud Khalil, 30, was arrested by ICE astatine his university-owned flat for his alleged engagement successful the monolithic anti-Israel protests astatine Columbia past year. He is present successful ICE custody successful Louisiana.

WHO IS MAHMOUD KHALIL, THE ANTI-ISRAEL COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY ACTIVIST ICE ARRESTED?

Khalil is simply a imperishable U.S. resident, but is Palestinian and was raised successful Syria. He is joined to an American national who is presently 8 months pregnant.

When helium was arrested, DHS said it was to support U.S. nationalist security, saying that Khalil "led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated violent organization."

Mahmoud Khalil speaking astatine an anti-Israel encampment connected the Columbia University field successful New York connected April 29, 2024.  (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, file)

Khalil's attorney, Ramsi Kassem, said his lawsuit was "identified, targeted and detained" due to the fact that of his advocacy for Palestinian rights and his protected speech. He said Khalil has nary transgression convictions, but "for immoderate reason, is being detained."

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White House property caput Karoline Leavitt defended the Trump administration's determination to apprehension Khalil and said helium distributed pro-Hamas propaganda fliers connected campus.

Fox News Digital's Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.