Education Department seeks names and nationalities of student protesters: Report

• The U.S. Department of Education is requesting detailed information from colleges about students involved in campus protests. Attorneys claim the request aims to identify students who may have harassed Jewish students or staff.
• The department is investigating possible discrimination based on race or national origin.
• Some have raised concerns over privacy violations and the political motives behind the request. 

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The U.S. Department of Education is requesting colleges provide more detailed information about students involved in campus protests. This comes as civil rights attorneys investigate how universities have handled antisemitism, with a new focus on identifying the names and nationalities of those who participated.

According to The Washington Post, attorneys from the Office for Civil Rights claim the Department of Education is seeking this information to determine who may have harassed Jewish students or staff on campuses under investigation. The request spans both the current academic year and the previous one.

Letter sent to 60 universities

On March 10, the Department of Education sent letters to 60 colleges, including Arizona State, Columbia and Johns Hopkins, warning them about potential Title VI violations under the Civil Rights Act.

Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race or national origin. It also ensures no one is excluded from programs or financial assistance in the U.S. due to such discrimination.

Skepticism of new request from federal attorneys

Three attorneys expressed concerns about the new request. They claimed it may be tied to Trump’s efforts to deport students linked to protests.

However, the Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the Department of Education explained the information is part of a broader investigation into how colleges have responded to antisemitism.

One case is at Columbia University, where pro-Palestinian protests have broken out since 2023. Within days of the investigation’s announcement, the Trump administration cut $400 million worth of grants from the university. The administration accused Columbia of failing to protect Jewish students from harassment. Trump officials stated they would restore funding once the university met certain requirements.

Federal civil rights attorneys have sent questions and data requests to universities. According to The Post, one letter specifically asked for information about policies on handling complaints, reports of antisemitic incidents and how schools responded to those reports. The request also sought a list of students who may have harassed Jewish students, not just those convicted or found guilty of violating policies.

Additionally, the department requested the names of students involved in code of conduct violations, suspensions, expulsions or referrals to law enforcement for harassment or violence against Jewish students and faculty.

Privacy concerns from legal experts

While the investigations aim to determine if civil rights laws have been violated, some attorneys caution that the new request could violate privacy laws and student protections. Legal experts warn that universities providing this information could run afoul of privacy regulations.

This request follows the recent arrest of a Palestinian activist at Columbia University by U.S. immigration officials, which aligns with Trump’s executive order aimed at combating antisemitism nationwide.

The Jan. 29 directive from the Trump administration commits to vigorously fighting antisemitism using every legal tool available. It calls for the prosecution, removal, or accountability of those responsible for unlawful antisemitic harassment and violence.