State Department Revokes Visa of Foreign Student Linked to Hamas-Supporting Protests

The State Department has taken decisive action, revoking the visa of a university student who participated in pro-Hamas protests. This move aligns with President Donald Trump's firm stance on removing foreign students involved in anti-Israel demonstrations.

The State Department confirmed the visa revocation but withheld details on the student’s identity or university, citing "legal constraints." The department stated, "Yesterday evening, we revoked the first visa of an alien who was previously cited for criminal behavior in connection with Hamas-supporting disruptions. ICE will proceed with removing this person from the country."

This action reflects a broader review of over 100,000 student visas, a stark contrast to the Biden administration's approach, which reportedly did not revoke any visas despite numerous anti-Israel protests on campuses.

President Trump has made his position crystal clear, condemning foreign students who support Hamas or other terrorist organizations. He doubled down on these sentiments in a White House fact sheet, saying, "To all the resident aliens who joined in the pro-jihadist protests, we put you on notice: come 2025, we will find you, and we will deport you."

Trump also signed an executive order aimed at combating antisemitism early in his presidency, demonstrating his administration's commitment to protecting Jewish Americans and cracking down on radicalism in higher education.

College campuses across the U.S. have become hotspots for anti-Israel protests, including incidents of vandalism, threats against Jewish students, and clashes with law enforcement. A December 2024 U.S. House of Representatives Staff Report on antisemitism criticized the federal government’s "astounding" failure to address these issues.

Adding to this crackdown, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new AI-driven "Catch and Revoke" initiative to identify and cancel the visas of foreign students supporting designated terrorist groups. Rubio stated on X, "The United States has zero tolerance for foreign visitors who support terrorists. Violators of U.S. law — including international students — face visa denial or revocation, and deportation."

It's clear that the days of turning a blind eye to campus radicalism are over. With AI tools in play and a reinvigorated commitment to national security, the State Department is making its priorities known.