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Columbia University recently decided to halt the promotion of a virtual career expo linked to the Department of Homeland Security after facing backlash from faculty members. The objections raised were rooted in concerns that advertising this event could be perceived as an endorsement of “authoritarianism.”
The event in question was a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Virtual Career Expo, slated for February 18. This online gathering aimed to connect prospective applicants with recruiters, offering insights into careers within federal law enforcement. According to reports by the New York Post, the event was to feature multiple agencies from the Department of Homeland Security.
The New York Post highlighted a statement from an unnamed faculty coalition. The group contended that promoting the career expo could compromise campus trust, potentially making some community members feel targeted or unsafe. They also expressed concerns that such actions could tarnish Columbia’s public image, suggesting the university might be viewed as complicit in a shift towards authoritarian practices.
The coalition emphatically stated, “Silence will be read as consent,” underscoring their call for a response to the situation.
Meanwhile, protests have been occurring, with many students advocating for increased protections against ICE actions. These demonstrations intensified on February 5, 2026, when participants, who were mainly students, were arrested by New York police after blocking a street outside Columbia University.
In response to the criticism, Columbia University officials said the listing was not an endorsement of the event, which appeared on its School of Professional Studies’ (SPS) Career Design Lab website through 12twenty, an external online recruitment platform that provides students and alumni access to job postings and hiring events from a broad network of employers.
“SPS and the University do not control or select the employers available on the 12twenty network. Job opportunities or career expo events made available on the platform should not be construed as a sponsorship or endorsement by SPS or the University. These events take place virtually and no students are required to participate,” the university said.
It noted that the 12twenty platform includes various employers, including other federal agencies like the CDC, EPA, FBI, FDA, FEMA and IRS.
A student walks through security at Columbia University. (Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital.)
In an updated statement issued Feb. 11, Columbia said the Career Design Lab website will now highlight only events organized by SPS, but students and alumni can continue to access the broader range of external opportunities through the 12twenty platform.
 New York City–based news outlet amNY spoke with retired schoolteacher Rich Candia, who defended the career expo and argued that students should have access to information about federal law enforcement and career opportunities.
“This is quite hypocritical because the schools promote ‘choice’ but they are denying choice when they hinder the posting of such employment,” Candia told the outlet. “There’s going to be opposition to many issues, but by not promoting the federal government’s event, they are denying the sector of students who may have a profound interest in this particular livelihood.”