ANALYSIS – But will he? Since the savage atrocities committed against 1,400 Israeli civilians by Hamas during their October 7 terror rampage, pro-Palestine/pro-Hamas protests and riots have erupted in various American cities and universities.
As I wrote about earlier: “Many of these demonstrations of solidarity are disguised as supporting Palestinians or ‘Palestine,' but many are overtly pro-Hamas, anti-Israel and anti-Jew.”
Many of the instigators are also foreigners here on student or other visas.
And while many are here as students or on other temporary visas, I noted: “An unknown number are here illegally, having arrived recently under Joe Biden‘s open border policy.”
In my piece, I also noted that numerous Republican leaders and lawmakers soon began pushing to revoke the visas of anyone found to be supporting Hamas. (RELATED: Leaked Border Patrol Memo Orders Agents Not To Misgender Illegal Immigrants)
Hamas is designated a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) by the U.S. government. And it has been for a long time. It was originally designated an FTO by the secretary of state on October 8, 1997, and was redesignated as such both October 8, 1999, and October 5, 2001.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and others, such as Senators Rubio and Tom Cotton of Arkansas, have all proposed removing foreign students from the U.S. who openly support terrorism.
Former President Donald Trump has also expressed strong support for this measure, in addition to his own proposed massive deportation effort.
Meanwhile Senator Marco Rubio of Florida last week quizzed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on the matter, noting language in statute that those who espouse terrorist views should be denied visas.
Mayorkas acknowledged that espousing or supporting terrorist activity could be the basis for the revocation and deportation of an individual.
“I think it makes sense that if you can't get a visa because you espouse terrorist views or endorse terrorist views, then if you have a visa and you do that while a visitor, we're talking about visitors to the United States, that visa should be canceled,” Rubio said.
“I would agree,” Mayorkas responded.
And now Joe Biden's state Department is admitting it does have the authority to do so. Fox News reported:
The Biden administration has confirmed that it has the authority to revoke the visas of foreign nationals who are living in the U.S. but who support terrorist groups such as Hamas – just as Republicans are urging the government to crack down on pro-Hamas foreigners.
In a letter to Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., the State Department confirmed that Hamas is a designated foreign terrorist organization and that the State Dept. has the power to revoke visas.
“The Department of State also has broad authority under the [Immigration and Nationality Act] to revoke visas,” the agency said. “We exercise the authority when there is information or evidence indicating a visa holder may be ineligible for a U.S. visa.”
Additionally, it said that when it receives “derogatory information” indicating ineligibility, it takes “immediate action” which can include revocation of visas.
The question remains, how willing are they to enforce this power? (RELATED: House Shelves Resolution To Impeach Mayorkas)
Unfortunately, a State Department spokesperson said that visa records are confidential under U.S. law and it therefore cannot discuss specific visa cases.
But Senator Rubio said in response: “State Department confirms they have the power to revoke the visas of Hamas supporters and deport them. Now they need to do it.”
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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