The State Department has revoked the visa of a foreign student who participated in a protest supporting Hamas at Columbia University. This action follows President Donald Trump’s directive to cancel visas for students involved in anti-Israel demonstrations on American campuses. Over 100 protesters gathered at Columbia University in response to a visit from former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
The New York Police Department cleared pro-Palestinian demonstrators from Barnard College after a group of students occupied Milstein Library. The visa revocation marks the first instance of such action taken by the State Department under President Trump’s order. The State Department said in a statement, “Yesterday evening, we revoked the first visa of an alien who was previously cited for criminal behavior in connection with Hamas-supporting disruptions.”
U.S. college campuses have experienced a rise in anti-Israel protests and disruptions, including threats against Jewish students and violence against law enforcement.
A December 2024 U.S. House of Representatives Staff Report on anti-Semitism found the federal government’s failure to protect Jewish American civil rights, particularly student rights, to be “astounding.”
Senator Marco Rubio is reportedly launching an AI-powered “Catch and Revoke” effort to cancel the visas of foreign students who support designated terror groups. Rubio stated on social media platform X, “Those who support designated terrorist organizations, including Hamas, threaten our national security. The United States has zero tolerance for foreign visitors who support terrorists.”
This policy is part of President Trump’s broader efforts to target and remove foreign nationals who engage in activities deemed supportive of terrorism.
visa revoked for hamas protest
The administration maintains that such measures are necessary for national security and public order. The State Department plans to use artificial intelligence to revoke visas of foreign students perceived as supporters of Hamas.
This initiative follows an executive order signed by President Trump aimed at combating antisemitism and pledging to deport non-citizen college students and others who have participated in pro-Palestinian protests. The AI-assisted reviews will scrutinize social media accounts of tens of thousands of student visa holders, as well as news reports concerning previous demonstrations against Israel’s policies and lawsuits alleging antisemitism by foreign nationals. Some pro-Palestinian groups include Jewish members, and many protesters have condemned both antisemitism and Hamas.
Advocates worry that using artificial intelligence for surveillance could lead to errors, misidentifications, and privacy violations. Abed Ayoub, the executive director for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, said, “This should concern all Americans. This is a First Amendment and freedom of speech issue, and the administration will overplay its hand.”
The State Department is collaborating with the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security on this initiative.
President Trump has threatened to cut federal funding for educational institutions that allow what he termed illegal protests. The American Civil Liberties Union has urged colleges and universities not to succumb to federal pressure to use surveillance or punish international students or faculty involved in campus protests, stating that the protests are constitutionally protected free speech.
Image Credits: Photo by Michael on Unsplash
April Isaacs is a news contributor for DevX.com She is long-term, self-proclaimed nerd. She loves all things tech and computers and still has her first Dreamcast system. It is lovingly named Joni, after Joni Mitchell.
