The College Fix

President acknowledges absence of graduate detained by ICE

Anti-Israel graduates ripped apart and set fire to their diplomas outside Columbia University’s Wednesday commencement, demanding freedom for Palestine and protesting the detainment of student activist Mahmoud Khalil.

“Outside Wednesday’s ceremony, which involved about 12,000 graduates and an estimated 25,000 family and friends, some newly minted anti-Israel grads continued the upheaval by torching their diplomas in protest, loudly booing, chanting and brandishing signs denouncing the Jewish state for alleged ‘atrocities’ committed in its war against Hamas,” the New York Post reported.

Police arrived to “maintain order” and arrested at least two rowdy protesters.

NEW: Columbia University Grad Students and Pro-Palestine protesters BURN THEIR DIPLOMAS outside of the University during student’s graduation.

Video by @olgafe_images @FreedomNTV [email protected] to license pic.twitter.com/Cj2tsSMWH1

— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) May 21, 2025

During the ceremony, protesters interrupted President Claire Shipman with loud chants and boos, calling for the liberation of Mahmoud Khalil, a former graduate student detained by ICE in March, who is now facing deportation proceedings, according to the New York Post.

​​“Free Mahmoud!” the audience yelled as Shipman paused her speech. Many of the protesters wore keffiyeh headscarves.

A powerful moment at Columbia College’s graduation today as the audience stood in solidarity, loudly chanting “Free Mahmoud” during Acting President Claire Shipman’s address. We will never forget her role in Mahmoud’s abduction. pic.twitter.com/8tsSeGLULA

— CU Apartheid Divest (CUAD) (@ColumbiaBDS) May 20, 2025

Student group Columbia University Apartheid Divest vowed to disrupt the ceremony in a post on X Tuesday. Khalil was a spokesman for the group.

“WEAR A MASK! GET LOUD! BRING NOISE! NO COMMENCEMENT AS USUAL UNDER GENOCIDE,” the group wrote.

During her speech, Shipman acknowledged Khalil’s absence at the ceremony.

“We firmly believe that our international students have the same rights to freedom of speech as everyone else and they should not be targeted by the government for exercising this right,” Shipman said, according to the Associated Press.

“I know many in our community are mourning the absence of our graduate Mahmoud Khalil,” she said.

Shipman was also interrupted by loud chants and boos during a smaller graduation ceremony Tuesday, CUAD stated on X.

Khalil, who holds a green card, helped lead disruptive pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia over the last year, The College Fix previously reported.

Khalil is currently detained in a Louisiana prison, pending a decision from a New Jersey judge on his case, with an immigration hearing set for May 22, The Guardian reported.

On Sunday, a group of pro-Palestinian students held their own commencement off campus under the name “People’s University for Palestine,” The Fix reported.

Last year, Columbia canceled its graduation ceremony due to pro-Palestinian protests.

MORE: Women’s college bestows honorary degree to trans man Rachel Levine

IMAGE CAPTION AND CREDIT: Columbia grads burning diplomas; FreedomNews.Tv/X

Like The College Fix on Facebook / Follow us on Twitter