Marco Rubio

Rubio Advocates Visa Revocations for Students Supporting Hamas Amid Campus Protests

In his first week as Secretary of State, Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) made clear his commitment to cracking down on foreign nationals who support terrorist organizations like Hamas while residing in the United States. Speaking during his confirmation hearing, Rubio called for the revocation of visas held by those endorsing groups responsible for inciting violence and glorifying terrorism.

Rubio’s comments come on the heels of a turbulent fall semester on many American campuses, where pro-Hamas demonstrations frequently featured the glorification of terrorist leaders and explicit praise for the Oct. 7 Hamas-led massacre of Jewish civilians in Israel. A top Hamas official in May 2024 even credited the “great student flood” from Western universities for bolstering their cause.

At the hearing, Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) referred to an op-ed he co-authored with Rubio in October, which advocated for the immediate removal of visa holders found supporting groups like Hamas. McCormick pressed Rubio on how he would enforce such measures, to which Rubio responded with conviction.

“If you apply for a visa to enter the United States, and it becomes clear you’re a supporter of Hamas, you wouldn’t be allowed in. If we find out later that you support Hamas, your visa should be revoked. It’s common sense,” Rubio asserted. “We intend to be very forceful about that.”

The op-ed, published on Fox News, stated, “Those who incite violence or endorse terrorist activity by supporting Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and attacks against Jews are in violation of the terms of their visas and should no longer be welcomed as guests of America.”

Rubio’s stance aligns with similar calls from former President Donald Trump, who has pledged to swiftly deport “foreign jihad sympathizers” and individuals who express hatred for the United States or its allies, including Israel.

The State Department has yet to provide a formal comment on Rubio’s statements or the proposed policy shifts, but as these issues unfold, the administration’s actions will undoubtedly face scrutiny from both supporters and critics.

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