Antisemitism Challanged in the US
Trump Launches Major Antisemitism Probe Into University of Nevada
DOJ initiates civil rights investigation into UNLV's handling of antisemitic incidents following Hamas attacks. University pledges cooperation amid growing campus tensions.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated a civil rights compliance investigation into the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), focusing on the university’s handling of alleged antisemitic incidents on campus following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza.
The probe marks the latest move by the Trump administration to target academic institutions over campus protests, where the government has threatened to revoke federal funding, arguing that universities have failed to curb displays of antisemitism.
Focus of the Federal Investigation
The Justice Department announced that the investigation will specifically “focus on the University’s response to antisemitism on campus.”
The DOJ's Civil Rights Division will “examine whether UNLV, a recipient of federal financial assistance, has engaged in discriminatory practices.”
The department has issued a demand for documentation by November 1, detailing how UNLV processed complaints of alleged campus discrimination in the period following the conflict's outbreak.
UNLV released a statement pledging full cooperation with the federal review, expressing "confidence that the review will show it complies with applicable laws."
Political Context and Criticism
The federal scrutiny comes amid ongoing political and legal contention over the definition of antisemitism in the context of pro-Palestinian advocacy.
The Trump administration maintains that universities have permitted displays of antisemitism to flourish on their campuses. At the same time, protesters and critics of the administration argue that the government
"wrongly equates criticism of Israel’s offensive and its control of Palestinian territories with antisemitism, and advocacy for Palestinian rights with support for extremism."
Legal Setbacks for Administration
The aggressive stance against pro-Palestinian advocacy has faced some initial legal challenges. On Tuesday, a US judge ruled that the Trump administration acted unconstitutionally by adopting a policy of "revoking visas, arresting, detaining, and deporting foreign students and faculty over pro-Palestinian advocacy."