In the wake of a concerning surge in antisemitic incidents on college campuses and heightened global terrorism threats, there is a pressing need to address the potential national security risks posed by foreign student visa holders with ties to extremist groups.
Under current U.S. law, those in the country who espouse views in support of foreign terrorist organizations are in violation of their visa.
This includes international students who defy both university and police orders. Anyone violating these terms should have their visas revoked and be deported immediately.
In addition, colleges and universities that host foreign students are required to report disciplinary actions to a portal, SEVIS, utilized by both the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State.
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and to U.S. Department of State Secretary Antony Blinken urging them to remind universities of their responsibilities, enforce existing U.S. law and expel these terrorist sympathizers from our country.
“For those international students who defied university orders, and police instruction, in favor of acting on pro-terrorist views, this should result in immediate expulsion from their host institution and our generous country. No questions asked,” said Rubio.
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“Let me be clear: espousing support for a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization is grounds for the termination of a visa and immediate removal from our country. As pro-terrorist protesters continue to be arrested, I urge you to ensure those who are in our country on visas are placed into expedited deportation proceedings,” Rubio continued.
Maintaining the integrity of the U.S. student visa program is not only a matter of national security, but also a moral imperative to protect the sanctity of academic institutions as bastions of learning, open discourse, and intellectual freedom.
By swiftly identifying and removing any foreign visa holders who have betrayed these principles, the Biden administration can send a clear message that terrorism and antisemitism have no place in American higher education.
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