The three broadcast networks of ABC, NBC, and CBS took different approaches to the news that more Columbia University students have been arrested, but none of them were good. NBC portrayed visa enforcement as a “crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests,” while CBS ignored the reason for the arrest, and ABC ignored her previous protest-related arrest and, like the others, that this is not the first time she has had visa issues.
Friday’s edition of NBC Nightly News was also the most in-depth as Emilie Ikeda began, “Tonight President Trump's crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests ramping up, immigration agents taking a second student involved in the Columbia university demonstrations into custody. The Department of Homeland Security says, “Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian from West Bank was arrested for overstaying her expired F-1 student visa.’”
In an important detail that was simply tacked on, Ikeda also noted how “she had also been arrested last spring ‘for her involvement in pro-Hamas protests.’”
None of the three networks noted how, according to the New York Post, Kordia had her visa terminated in 2021 for failing to attend classes. Making it worse for the broadcast trio, Kordia’s visa was reinstated only to be cancelled again in 2022 for the same reason.
Ikeda also reported on “another student” who “had her visa revoked and used ‘the CBP home app to self deport.’ Today’s announcement further fueling protests calling for the release of recent Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil. His legal team today releasing the blurred video of his arrest filmed by his wife from the weekend and describing in new court documents how ‘Khalil felt as though he was kidnapped.’"
After dueling soundbites from a Khalil supporter and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Ikeda mourned, “While protestors line its gates, Columbia University is among dozens of schools facing mounting financial pressure to follow demands of the Trump Administration. Earlier this week, the National Institutes of Health said it's ‘terminating more than $250 million in funding’ to Columbia ‘in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.’ Dr. Uma Reddy’s clinical trial examining maternal mortality has been halted as a result.”
Reddy added, “You know, that’s it. We can't study it and we can’t do anything about improving deaths during the postpartum period. That’s when the majority of deaths are occurring now in the U.S.”
Perhaps Reddy should take her concerns to her colleagues who put her in this situation.
Meanwhile, over on CBS Evening News, co-host John Dickerson provided zero information on Kordia’s history of arrest, visa cancellations, or even her name, “We learned today that another Columbia University protester has been arrested, as well, and that a third has chosen to leave the country.”
On Saturday morning’s Good Morning America, ABC’s Janai Norman likewise omitted Kordia’s name and previous arrest, “The Department of Homeland Security has arrested a second student who was involved in the protests at Columbia University. A Palestinian woman was taken into custody in New York for allegedly overstaying her visa.”
This country gave Kordia a great opportunity to study here, and she responded by not even going to class. When we gave her a second chance, she still refused to go to class. Meanwhile, she helped spread hate and broke the law. She’s not a free speech martyr who is the victim of a “crackdown” on speech the administration doesn’t like.
Here are transcripts for the March 14 and 15 shows:
NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt
3/14/2025
6:40 PM ET
LESTER HOLT: More protests erupting at Columbia University as federal officials arrest another student days after activist and protest leader Mahmoud Khalil was detained and set to face deportation. Here is Emilie Ikeda.
EMILIE IKEDA: Tonight President Trump's crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests ramping up, immigration agents taking a second student involved in the Columbia university demonstrations into custody. The Department of Homeland Security says “Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian from West Bank was arrested for overstaying her expired F-1 student visa.”
Adding that she had also been arrested last spring “for her involvement in pro-Hamas protests.”
Another student had her visa revoked and used “the CBP home app to self deport.” Today’s announcement further fueling protests calling for the release of recent Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil. His legal team today releasing the blurred video of his arrest filmed by his wife from the weekend and describing in new court documents how "Khalil felt as though he was kidnapped."
WOMAN: I mean it’s the McCarthy era ten times over. It’s just horrible.
IKEDA: The DHS says the 30-year old green card holder “led activities aligned to Hamas.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio warning today
MARCO RUBIO: We will continue to look for people we would never have allowed into this country on student visas had we known they were going to do what they have done, but now that they’ve done it, we’re going to get rid of them.
IKEDA: While protestors line its gates, Columbia University is among dozens of schools facing mounting financial pressure to follow demands of the Trump Administration.
Earlier this week, the National Institutes of Health said it’s “terminating more than $250 million in funding” to Columbia “in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students." Dr. Uma Reddy’s clinical trial examining maternal mortality has been halted as a result.
UMA REDDY: You know, that’s it. We can't study it and we can’t do anything about improving deaths during the postpartum period. That’s when the majority of deaths are occurring now in the U.S.
***
CBS Evening News
3/14/2025
6:35 PM ET
JOHN DICKERSON: Now some of the top stories from around the world in tonight's Evening News roundup. Lawyers for Mahmoud Khalil released video of his arrest last weekend at the New York apartment he shares with his pregnant wife. The former Columbia grad student is facing deportation for his role in campus protests against the war in Gaza. His lawyers say he was arrested by federal agents who said they were acting on a State Department order to revoke his green card. We learned today that another Columbia University protester has been arrested, as well, and that a third has chosen to leave the country.
***
ABC Good Morning America
3/15/2025
7:16 AM ET
JANAI NORMAN: The Department of Homeland Security has arrested a second student who was involved in the protests at Columbia University. A Palestinian woman was taken into custody in New York for allegedly overstaying her visa and now we’re seeing new video that first arrest released by lawyers for Palestinian activist and green card holder Mahmoud Khalil, who shared video of his arrest, allegedly taken by his eight-month pregnant wife, you see handcuffed and walked out of the lobby of his Columbia University-owned apartment building.
