Leftist activists at Columbia University demanded a ‘sanctuary campus’ to shield illegal immigrants from President Trump’s ICE enforcers, but NYPD swiftly arrested 12 for blocking traffic in a bold display of law and order.
Story Snapshot
- NYPD arrested 12 anti-ICE protesters on February 5, 2026, after they blockaded traffic outside Columbia University’s gates.
- Sunrise Columbia, an environmental activist group, organized the protest demanding reinstatement of sanctuary campus status rescinded in 2025.
- Protesters sought to block ICE access, close legal loopholes, and oust trustees cooperating with Trump’s immigration enforcement.
- Columbia insists ICE needs judicial warrants for campus entry, rejecting formal sanctuary protections.
Protest Erupts Over ICE Ties
On February 5, 2026, around 2 p.m., students and faculty gathered outside Columbia University’s 116th Street and Broadway gates. Organized by Sunrise Columbia, the demonstration targeted the university’s ties to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Protesters formed a human chain, linking arms to blockade the roadway and divert traffic. NYPD officers, already on site with barricades, issued dispersal orders. Twelve individuals faced arrest for disorderly conduct as the event ended by 3 p.m. This action underscores frustrations with federal immigration priorities under President Trump.
Background on Sanctuary Status Reversal
Columbia University maintained sanctuary campus status from 2017 until early March 2025. That designation limited law enforcement access to protect undocumented students and staff. The administration rescinded it amid shifting national policies. Sunrise Columbia, known for protests against fossil fuels and Trump regulations, led this latest rally. Faculty unions representing over 3,000 educators pushed for sanctuary protections in contracts. The event highlights tensions between campus activism and lawful immigration enforcement, a victory for border security advocates tired of open defiance.
Detailed Protest Demands Emerge
Protesters issued five specific demands. First, reinstate sanctuary status to bar ICE and police from campus. Second, eliminate the “exigent circumstances” loophole for warrantless entry. Third, halt sharing of student, faculty, and staff data with DHS. Fourth, remove trustees and administrators aiding Trump policies. Fifth, disclose all federal agreements on ICE cooperation. These calls reflect activist views of university complicity in deportations. Columbia countered that policy mandates judicial warrants for ICE access, with no leadership authorizing entry. Common sense supports enforcing immigration laws without campus obstruction.
Arrested individuals now face disorderly conduct charges for traffic disruption. The protest dispersed quickly, minimizing further chaos. Heightened visibility spotlights Columbia’s policies, straining relations between activists and administrators. Non-citizen community members worry about enforcement exposure.
Impacts and Broader Implications
Short-term effects include legal consequences for the 12 arrested and temporary campus disruptions. Long-term, faculty and student groups may intensify pressure for policy reversal. National debates intensify over universities defying federal authority on immigration. Trump’s administration prioritizes deportations, with over 605,000 removals and 1.9 million self-deportations since 2025. This crackdown protects American communities strained by past open-border failures. Other institutions face similar activist pushes, testing commitments to rule of law over sanctuary chaos.
University reputation hangs in balance amid unresolved disputes. Broader sector watches as sanctuary policies clash with sovereignty. Conservative values affirm law enforcement’s role in maintaining order against illegal immigration agendas.
Sources:
Anti-ICE Protest Outside Columbia University Leads to 12 Arrests
Students Protest Columbia’s ICE Ties; NYPD Makes Multiple Arrests
NYPD Arrests Dozen Anti-ICE Protesters Blocking Traffic Outside Columbia University
