Trump administration to cancel student visas of pro-Palestinian protesters
USA Today5 days
Trump Order Suggests Deportation of Noncitizen Gaza War Student Protesters
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Above: Over 150 pro-Palestinian students marching to demand UCLA divest from Israel over the war in Gaza on the campus in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, Calif., on Nov. 16, 2024. Image copyright: Genaro Molina/Contributor/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
The Facts
US Pres. Donald Trump signed an executive order (EO) on Wednesday directing federal agencies to combat antisemitism and deport non-citizen college students who participated in what it described as "pro-jihadist protests" and broke any laws.
The order requires agency and department leaders to provide recommendations within 60 days across criminal and civil authorities that could be used to fight antisemitism — including potential deportation measures for foreign students.
The White House fact sheet promises immediate Dept. of Justice action to prosecute "terroristic threats, arson, vandalism and violence against American Jews," particularly focusing on on-campus activities since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
The Spin
Narrative A
Pro-Palestine college protesters, often linked to organizations like Students for Justice in Palestine and Samidoun, have shown they're not innocent activists but terrorist sympathizers. They've praised Hamas's violence, physically vandalized campuses, and intimidated Jewish students. Supporting terrorism while enjoying US education is a misuse of American privilege, betraying the freedoms and protections America offers. Congress should follow Trump's lead and pass a law to rid the country of these students.
Narrative B
Trump's order targeting students for their views on the Gaza conflict is completely un-American. It's not about security but rather using federal law enforcement to silence anti-war voices and punish students for protesting a foreign policy — a direct attack on free speech. This move, which equates peaceful dissent with terrorism, undermines the First Amendment and will have a chilling effect on campus discourse across the country.
