Since the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel, U.S. cities and college campuses have seen a concerning rise in antisemitic and pro-terrorist violence. Some fear that individuals involved in these incidents are in the U.S. on visas and have not been held accountable.
The U.S. has a legal obligation to enforce immigration laws, including removing those who support terrorist groups and denying entry to others. However, lawmakers argue that the Biden-Harris Administration has failed to act on this responsibility.
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U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and U.S. Representative Rich McCormick (R-GA) have written a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken questioning their ability to address aliens linked to terrorist organizations.
“It is clear under the law that anyone in the country who is a non-citizen should have their visa revoked or be denied entry into the United States if they support Hamas or other terrorist organizations. Failure to enforce these provisions of our laws not only undermines the legitimacy and integrity of the executive and legislative branch as well as that of our Constitution, but also dishonors those who fled to this country from the same hate that is now spreading across this country,” said the lawmakers.
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The letter, co-signed by a group of bipartisan lawmakers including Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Rick Scott (R-FL), and others, highlights the rise in antisemitic incidents reported by the Anti-Defamation League, with a 388% increase between October 7-23, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022.
The letter specifically mentions violent protests, including an incident in Washington, D.C., where demonstrators burned an American flag and raised a Palestinian flag while vandalizing monuments with pro-Hamas slogans.
Lawmakers argue that while the First Amendment protects U.S. citizens, these protections should not extend to non-citizens who engage in supporting terrorist groups. They call for the enforcement of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) of 1952, which prohibits any alien from entering or remaining in the U.S. if they support terrorist organizations.
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The letter requests answers to specific questions, including whether the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the State Department are working with universities and other entities to identify visa holders who have expressed support for Hamas, and whether any actions have been taken to revoke their visas. Additionally, lawmakers asked how many visas have been revoked due to terrorism-related grounds of inadmissibility since October 2023.
The lawmakers stressed that failing to enforce these immigration laws compromises national security and the integrity of the U.S. government’s immigration policies.
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