plowunited.net – The U.S. State Department has revoked the visa of a foreign student who participated in a pro-Hamas demonstration. This align with President Donald Trump’s directive to cancel visas for students involved in anti-Israel protests on college campuses.
The department confirmed the visa revocation but did not disclose the identity of the student or their university due to legal restrictions.
The State Department announced that it had revoked the visa of a foreign national previously cited for criminal behavior related to Hamas-supporting disruptions.
This decision marks the first instance of visa cancellation under Trump’s policy. Which seeks to remove foreign students engaged in disruptive or unlawful protests. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency is now taking steps to deport the individual from the U.S.
Authorities are cracking down on individuals involved in pro-Hamas or anti-Israel demonstrations. This emphasize that students on visas must follow U.S. laws and policies. The administration has indicated that additional visa cancellations could follow as investigations into student protests continue.
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Trump Administration Targets Student Visa Over Pro-Hamas Protests
The State Department reviewed over 100,000 student visas during the Biden administration but did not revoke any. Despite ongoing anti-Israel protests and disruptions on college campuses.
Upon taking office in January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at combating antisemitism and cracking down on foreign students involved in pro-Hamas demonstrations. He has repeatedly called for the cancellation of student visas for those supporting terrorist groups.
“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 stated in a White House fact sheet.
He also vowed to immediately revoke the student visas of individuals deemed Hamas sympathizers on college campuses, arguing that American universities have become hotbeds of radicalism.
With the first visa revocation already confirmed. Federal agencies are expected to continue reviewing cases of student involvement in protests linked to Hamas or other extremist organizations.
U.S. Cracks Down on Student Visas
U.S. college campuses have seen a surge in anti-Israel protests, including vandalism, threats against Jewish students, and violence against law enforcement. The Trump administration has accused the Biden administration of failing to act, allowing a coordinated assault on public order to unfold.
A White House fact sheet criticized the previous administration, citing a December 2024 U.S. House of Representatives Staff Report that condemned the federal government’s failure to protect Jewish Americans, particularly students. The report called this lack of action “astounding.”
In response, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced an AI-driven initiative called “Catch and Revoke”, designed to identify and cancel visas of foreign students who express support for designated terror groups. Axios reported the initiative on Thursday.
“Those who support designated terrorist organizations, including Hamas, threaten our national security,” 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, revocation, and deportation.”
The administration is expected to accelerate the process of reviewing student visas and removing individuals linked to extremist activity.
