Republicans are launching a probe into the federal law enforcement response to ‘pro-Hamas’ college protests that have ‘failed’ to prevent threats and violence against Jewish students.
In recent weeks, thousands of students and activists have been arrested for illegally occupying college campuses across the U.S. while calling for the downfall of Israel and praising Palestinians in Gaza.
At times, Jewish students have been targets of violence and have been blocked from attending classes by pro-Palestinian activists. Some Jewish students have described being afraid to be on campus and others have been told to avoid it altogether.
Now, House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn., is investigating why federal authorities and the universities have failed to protect these students despite receiving over $8 million in 2023 in taxpayer-funded government grants to do so.
‘Universities like Columbia that receive taxpayer-funded Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention grants from DHS must be able to uphold freedom of speech while protecting their students––especially as Jewish students have been repeatedly singled out for harassment since last October,’ Green exclusively told DailyMail.com in a statement.
Law enforcement intervenes to separate pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian protestors at a UCLA demonstration
Despite Columbia University receiving over $800,000 in federal funding to prevent terrorism and violence on campus, hundreds of students and activists were arrested for protesting. The school’s president, Minouche Shafik, has requested a sustained police presence on campus
‘These acts of anti-Semitic hate and brazen support for terrorist groups are unacceptable anywhere, particularly at our institutions of higher learning, but this rhetoric and coordinated, destructive activity could point toward even more sinister threats to public safety and national security.’
‘The Committee demands answers from DHS and the FBI on what they are doing to protect students, identify broader threats, and secure the homeland,’ Green said.
On Friday, the Republican sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas asking how their agencies worked to prevent violence towards Jewish students.
The lawmaker mentioned how a Columbia University department received over $800,000 in federal violence and terrorism prevention funding yet still ‘failed’ to protect students and avoid violence.
‘Despite receiving substantial federal funding under DHS’ Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) grant program, many universities have failed to effectively respond to an increase in threats and acts of violence directed at Jewish students and the Jewish community,’ the letter exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com stated.
‘This includes, for instance, the Teachers College at Columbia University, who received $820,332 in TVTP grant funding in fiscal year 2023, for the purposes of countering violent extremism.’
‘It is unclear, however, that DHS is taking sufficient steps to ensure the safety and security of the homeland,’ Green continued in the letter, before adding it is also ‘unclear from the Committee’s oversight how the FBI is protecting the American people from these potential terrorist attacks by countering possible terrorist cells and operatives here in the homeland.’
In total, DHS award over $8 million in federal grant funding to universities and colleges nationwide ‘to establish or enhance capabilities to prevent targeted violence and terrorism.’
Green demanded that the federal agencies send the committee proof of their correspondence with law enforcement and colleges demonstrating efforts to protect students.
The letter is co-signed by Rep. August Pfluger, the chairman of House Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence.
‘The antisemitic riots endangering Jewish students and law enforcement officers are unacceptable,’ Pfluger said in a statement to DailyMail.com.
‘DHS and FBI must demonstrate action in taking these threats seriously and securing the homeland.’
The lawmakers demanded a response from the FBI and DHS by May 24.