FBI Raids Homes of University of Michigan Students in Vandalism Investigation

Multiple homes of University of Michigan student activists in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Canton were raided by local, state, and federal law enforcement executing search warrants related to acts of vandalism, not protest activity. Authorities, including the Michigan Attorney General's office, emphasized the raids were not connected to campus protests or encampments, but rather to an investigation into multijurisdictional property damage, such as graffiti at the homes of university regents. Several students were briefly detained and released, with electronics and vehicles seized during the searches. The raids sparked concern and outrage among pro-Palestinian groups and legal advocates, who described the law enforcement actions as aggressive and distressing for those targeted. Attorneys for the students questioned the scale and scope of the operation, suggesting the response was disproportionate to alleged misdemeanor vandalism. Law enforcement agencies maintained that immigration enforcement was not involved and inquiries were being directed to the Attorney General’s office.