The Trump administration is preparing a wave of legal action against the University of California (UC) system and other major U.S. universities, alleging that these institutions failed to address or prevent antisemitism on campus. The announcement signals a broader federal effort to confront what officials describe as systemic civil rights violations.
In an interview with Fox News on May 28, Leo Terrell, senior legal advisor at the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, said lawsuits could be filed against universities on both coasts and in the Midwest, citing possible violations of hate crime laws and civil rights statutes.
Over 10 Universities Under Investigation
Terrell confirmed that more than 10 schools are under investigation by a federal task force, including UCLA, USC, UC Berkeley, Harvard, Columbia, NYU, George Washington University, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, and the University of Minnesota.
In response, several universities have publicly defended their actions and rejected the accusations.
Rachel Zaentz, a spokesperson for the UC system, stated, “Antisemitism is unacceptable. We are committed to eliminating all forms of discrimination and will continue cooperating with federal authorities.”
USC also released a statement emphasizing that it has taken “strong measures to protect all students, including Jewish students,” and stands firmly against antisemitism.
Federal Pressure Mounts Despite Campus Pushback
According to the task force, some planned campus visits for investigation purposes have reportedly been obstructed by university opposition, although no specific examples were provided.
Despite institutional resistance, federal enforcement is moving forward. In March, the Department of Education issued warning letters to over 60 campuses, including UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, UC Berkeley, and UC Davis, cautioning that failure to protect Jewish students could result in sanctions. Other institutions receiving letters include Pomona College, Stanford, Chapman University, Santa Monica College, and Sacramento State.
The Department of Justice is also reportedly investigating potential patterns of discrimination against Jewish faculty members within the UC system.
Trump Suggests Reducing International Student Enrollment
On the same day, President Donald Trump criticized Harvard University for its handling of antisemitism-related issues. Speaking from the White House, he called for cutting the proportion of international students at Harvard by half.
“Harvard needs to show us the list of foreign students,” Trump said. “Nearly 31% of students are from overseas, and we want to know where they come from.”
BY BRIAN CHOI [ichoi@koreadaily.com]
