Story perspectives

Harvard Professor Arrested for BB Gun Incident Outside Synagogue

12/5/2025

Summary

Story summary

On December 3, 2025, Homeland Security arrested Harvard Law School professor Carlos Portugal Gouvea for firing a BB gun outside a synagogue before Yom Kippur.
Gouvea, a Brazilian citizen on an exchange visa, accepted a plea deal for illegally discharging an air rifle and agreed to leave the U.S. voluntarily.
Although Gouvea claimed he was hunting rats, Homeland Security classified the incident as antisemitism, leading to the State Department revoking his visa on October 16.
This incident highlights ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and Harvard regarding foreign students and antisemitism policies.

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Story summary

On December 3, 2025, Homeland Security arrested Harvard Law School professor Carlos Portugal Gouvea for firing a BB gun outside a synagogue before Yom Kippur.
Gouvea, a Brazilian citizen on an exchange visa, accepted a plea deal for illegally discharging an air rifle and agreed to leave the U.S. voluntarily.
Although Gouvea claimed he was hunting rats, Homeland Security classified the incident as antisemitism, leading to the State Department revoking his visa on October 16.
This incident highlights ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and Harvard regarding foreign students and antisemitism policies.