U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order targeting pro-Palestinian protesters on college campuses, vowing to cancel student visas and deport non-citizen participants. The order, announced Wednesday, directs the Justice Department to take “immediate action” against what it calls a surge in antisemitism following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. It promises federal prosecutions for “terroristic threats, arson, vandalism, and violence against American Jews.”
“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 Fact Sheet On The Order. He Also Pledged To “Quickly Cancel The Student Visas Of All Hamas Sympathizers On College Campuses.”
Legal experts and civil rights groups argue the move could violate First Amendment protections. “The Constitution Protects Political Speech For Everyone In The U.S., Including International Students,”
Months of pro-Palestinian demonstrations have swept U.S. campuses since the start of the Israel-Gaza war, with participants arguing they are protesting Israel’s military actions, not supporting Hamas. However, the Trump administration’s order seeks to crack down on protests it claims have fueled antisemitic incidents.