Anti ICE protest blocks street at Columbia University

Professors, students and supporters staged an anti‑ICE sit‑in outside Columbia University, blocking Broadway at 116th Street until police intervened and arrested 12 people for disorderly conduct and refusing to disperse. Demonstrators chanted “Shut it down!” and accused the university of cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, demanding Columbia be declared a sanctuary campus and calling for changes to campus policing.

A Student Workers of Columbia spokesperson said fear has become “endemic” after recent ICE actions affecting students and urged university leaders to protect undocumented students rather than enabling surveillance and punishment. Organizers framed the action as part of broader opposition to ICE enforcement and recent detentions linked to earlier campus protests, tying demands to national debates over immigration policy, campus free speech and institutional accountability.

Police said they issued repeated warnings to clear the roadway before moving in to restore traffic and pedestrian access; those detained were processed on charges related to blocking the street and failing to comply with police orders. Video from the scene showed officers carrying protesters to police vehicles amid crowds recording the arrests. Authorities said the intervention aimed to maintain public safety and keep streets accessible for emergency use.

Organizers described the sit‑in as peaceful civil disobedience intended to spotlight what they call harms caused by ICE operations and vowed continued action, including further demonstrations, teach‑ins and campus meetings. Civil liberties advocates criticized the arrests as heavy‑handed and warned against chilling free expression on campuses. University officials said they respect the right to peaceful protest while stressing the need for safety and compliance with law; no immediate policy changes were announced.

Legal aid groups mobilized to support those detained, who were expected to be processed and released with summonses. The protest underscores sustained activism at Columbia amid heightened national attention on immigration enforcement, and signals ongoing friction between activists demanding sanctuary protections and authorities enforcing public‑order rules.