Staff Reports
Pro-Hamas protests on college campuses are reaching a fever pitch, and it seems that the days of these student visa-bearing anti-Israel sympathizers are numbered. While President Donald Trump has previously weighed in, describing illegal protests at institutions of higher learning as unacceptable, some schools, like Barnard College, have continued to allow these demonstrations to go unchecked. Fortunately, the new administration has begun to take action, spearheaded by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is making it clear that supporting terrorists will not be tolerated in the United States.
Rubio took to social media to emphasize the serious threat posed by those who support designated terrorist organizations such as Hamas. He pointed out that the U.S. has a no-tolerance policy regarding foreign visitors who express such sentiments, asserting that violators can find their visas revoked and face deportation. Clearly, the government is ready to enforce the law against anyone, including international students, who expresses sympathy for terrorism.
In a groundbreaking move, the State Department is set to implement an AI-enhanced initiative dubbed “Catch and Revoke.” This program will leverage artificial intelligence to sift through hundreds of thousands of social media accounts belonging to student visa holders. The objective? Identify those showing pro-Hamas sentiments, especially following the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. It appears that the government’s interest in policing foreign nationals’ speech has ramped up significantly since the previous administration, which seemed to overlook such antics entirely.
A thorough review of the past behavior of visa holders is underway, revealing an eye-popping detail: during the Biden administration, zero visa revocations occurred for students engaged in pro-terror protests. Investigators will be examining arrest records and anti-Israel demonstrations to discern if any foreign nationals were allowed to stay in the country despite engaging in blatantly antisemitic activities. Apparently, the new regime has no intention of repeating that curious blind-eye maneuver.
State Department to Revoke Visas of Pro-Hamas Agitators Here on Student Visas
https://t.co/KDQzOAU70l— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) March 7, 2025
Mark this as a moment of reckoning for students who view these protests as harmless fun. Under the current administration, even a single questionable social media post that hints at support for terrorism might spark a swift visa revocation. With the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 backing them up, officials are more than willing to enforce laws against those who threaten national security. The discussions surrounding these policies are so robust that a senior State Department official noted that the use of modern technology, including AI, serves vital national interests in a way that the previous administration didn’t even bother to consider.
As the pro-Hamas protests continue to pop up across the nation, it remains clear that there is a stark contrast between the current administration’s approach and the lackadaisical attitude of the prior one. The students who believe they can flaunt pro-terror sentiments or participate in chants supporting jihadist violence are in for a rude awakening. Under Secretary Rubio’s leadership, a serious crackdown on these behaviors is underway, reinforcing the message that America will not hesitate to defend its values and reject any groups that threaten its very foundation.
