News|GazaUS Department of Justice sues UCLA over anti-Semitism allegationsThe Trump administration has sought to penalise pro-Palestine political activity and deport foreign-born student activists.

The United States Department of Justice has initiated legal action against the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), alleging that the institution's administration ignored or facilitated acts of antisemitism.

The lawsuit, filed on Tue, Oct 10, 2023, asserts that UCLA created a hostile work environment for Jewish and Israeli employees in the context of protests related to Israel's military actions in Gaza.

The Department of Justice's complaint highlights violations of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination based on religion, among other factors. The complaint cites an environment of antisemitism that was pervasive enough to constitute a hostile work environment under the law.

The legal action follows Palestinian solidarity protests on UCLA's campus after the onset of Israel's military campaign in Gaza. The lawsuit claims that UCLA administrators allowed antisemitic sentiment to thrive, impacting both students and staff.

The lawsuit forms part of broader tensions between the Trump administration and certain universities. In previous instances, federal funding to universities has been frozen or settlements demanded in response to protests and related activities.

In July, a notice of violation was issued against UCLA by the Justice Department, citing findings of breaches of the Constitution's Equal Protection Clause and the Civil Rights Act.

UCLA and other universities, including Columbia University, have faced financial and operational repercussions, such as frozen federal research grants and demands for costly settlements, as a result of their handling of campus protests.

Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.