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Trump signs order to “prosecute, remove” students and staff who commit unlawful antisemitism

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President Donald Trump signed the executive order “Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism,” on Wednesday Jan. 29, 2025.

On Wednesday night, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism,” which builds on a previous order from 2019. 

“It shall be the policy of the United States to combat anti-Semitism vigorously, using all available and appropriate legal tools, to prosecute, remove, or otherwise hold to account the perpetrators of unlawful anti-Semitic harassment and violence,” Section 2 of the Wednesday order states.

Section 3 of the order is titled, “Additional Measures to Combat Campus Anti-Semitism,” with subsection d stating that the report from the Secretary of Education will include an inventory and analysis of all Title VI complaints within the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights.

On Dec. 22, 2023, the OCR opened a Title VI investigation into UNC following a complaint of discrimination against Jewish students. 

In May 2024, the OCR also opened an investigation into anti-Palestinian discrimination on campus.

Executive Order 13899, which Trump passed during his first term, states that the federal government will enforce Title VI against anti-semitic discrimination “as vigorously as against all other forms of discrimination prohibited by Title VI.”

The Wednesday order states that the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks "unleashed an unprecedented wave of vile anti-Semitic discrimination, vandalism, and violence against our citizens, especially in our schools and on our campuses. Jewish students have faced an unrelenting barrage of discrimination; denial of access to campus common areas and facilities, including libraries and classrooms; and intimidation, harassment, and physical threats and assault."

In a Tuesday statement to The Daily Tar Heel regarding recent federal actions, UNC Media Relations wrote that UNC-Chapel Hill will comply with all laws and guidance from the state and federal level. 

The University is monitoring all new orders to determine “the impact of our work and our community,” the statement reads.

“We know that the changes to the immigration enforcement may cause concern,” Media Relations wrote. “We want everyone to feel supported and informed during this time, and we encourage our campus community to learn more about their rights and available resources.”

A fact sheet from The White House that circulated Wednesday morning outlined a potential executive order aimed to deport non-citizens on college campuses who joined pro-Palestine demonstrations and cancel student visas of “Hamas sympathizers” at universities.

The words “protest” or “Palestine” are not included in the official executive order. 

Additionally, UNC has a federal affairs team tracking new executive orders that pertain to the University.

In an additional statement to The DTH on Thursday, UNC Media Relations wrote that the University leadership team is monitoring federal developments and communications with congressional and federal officials.

"The University is committed to providing an inclusive and flourishing environment for free speech and expression consistent with the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Section 14 of the North Carolina State Constitution," UNC Media Relations said.

This is a developing story, check back here for updates.

@a_nanyabusiness | @maddieahmadi | @daneenk_

@dailytarheel | university@dailytarheel.com

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Ananya Cox

Ananya Cox is the 2024-25 University editor. She previously served as the summer University editor and a senior writer on the Udesk.