Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik sent a letter to Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Department of Justice Attorney General Merrick Garland, and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, demanding action on Columbia University’s campus as Columbia President Minouche Shafik continues to allow an unsanctioned mob of students and agitators to harass and threaten Jewish students and community members.
Stefanik also calls for the Department of Education to revoke any federal funding Columbia University currently receives and publish the findings of the Title VI investigation the Biden Administration opened on Columbia following the October 7th attack.
Stefanik goes on to demand the Department of Homeland Security revoke the student visas of students who are brazenly endorsing terrorist organizations including Hamas in accordance with the Immigration and Nationality Act which asserts that anyone who endorses or espouses terrorist activity or persuades others to endorse or espouse terrorist activity or support a terrorist organization is ineligible for entry into the United States.
In the letter, Congresswoman Stefanik states, “Columbia University was one of the first schools into which the Biden Administration opened a Title VI investigation following the October 7th attack. There is clear and convincing evidence that students at Columbia have been targeted because they are Jewish, and the university has allowed this to persist without consequence. It is past time for the Department of Education to publish the findings of this investigation and hold the university accountable. Furthermore, the Department must take action to revoke any federal funding flowing to Columbia and similar institutions so taxpayers are not funding the ongoing discrimination.”
Stefanik continues, “Consequences are needed for those who are calling for terrorism and violent attacks. The Immigration and Nationality Act is clear – anyone who “endorses or espouses terrorist activity or persuades others to endorse or espouse terrorist activity or support a terrorist organization’’ is ineligible for entry into the United States. Individuals at these riots and campus events are brazenly endorsing Hamas and other terrorist organizations. By allowing this support for terror to continue, this wicked ideology is able to spread. I demand that you enforce existing law to revoke the visas and deport students here on visas who are suspended for their antisemitic actions. Strong leadership and action are needed to restore sanity on campus and protect those whose safety is being threatened.”
Find the full letter here.
