U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is planning to introduce a proposal “to remove federal funding from colleges and universities that allow protests, demonstrations, and other activity that can be reasonably construed to ‘endorse or espouse terrorist activity or persuades others to endorse or espouse terrorist activity or support a terrorist organization,’ as designated by the U.S. government.”
At the end of last week, Rubio offered the reasons why he would introduce the proposal.
“One week ago, the world watched in horror as Hamas, the Iranian-backed terrorist group, stormed into southern Israel to slaughter, rape, mutilate, and kidnap innocent Israeli civilians—as well as dozens of Americans,” Rubio’s office noted. “In the days that followed, demonstrations have erupted across America in support of Hamas. Many of those demonstrations occurred at colleges, whose administrators shockingly failed to condemn the horrific actions of Hamas and allowed pro-terrorist activities to proceed.”
“Some of those responsible for organizing and participating in the pro-Hamas demonstrations—demonstrations in support of a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) that just carried out the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust—are here on visas,” Rubio’s office added.
Rubio also called on the Biden administration “to cancel and rescind visas for foreign nationals who endorse or espouse terrorist activity, including those who defend or support Hamas by calling for intifada, jihad, or other similar actions to eliminate the Jewish state of Israel.”
“America is the most generous nation on earth, but we cannot allow foreign nationals who support terrorist groups like Hamas and march in our streets calling for ‘intifada’ to enter or stay in our country,” said Rubio. “The Biden administration has the authority and an obligation under existing law to immediately identify, cancel the visas of, and remove foreign nationals already here in America who have demonstrated support terrorist groups, and in many cases, even celebrated the slaughter of Israeli babies and the rape of Jewish girls.
“In addition to demanding the Biden administration apply our existing laws, I will introduce legislation to force them to act,” Rubio added.
Rubio insisted U.S. Code “details various classes of ‘aliens ineligible for visas or admission’” and “those prohibited include any person who ‘endorses or espouses terrorist activity or persuades others to endorse or espouse terrorist activity or support a terrorist organization,’ such as pro-Hamas demonstrators.” The senator also noted “others prohibited include ‘alien[s] whose entry or proposed activities in the United States the Secretary of State has reasonable ground to believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.’”
Gene Whisnant
October 20, 2023, 2:32 pm at 2:32 pm
Dear Kevin,
I support Senator Rubio’s proposal. However, I would encourage his proposal also to require universities to monitor and report to DHS attendance of individuals on student visas. Universities acceptance of foreign students has increased significantly due to the larger tuition funds the universities receives but having no obligation to report to a federal organization, i.e., DHS if the student(s) are not attending classes. Remember the two Boston Marathon bombers where in the US on student visas but had dropped out of school. I am very concerned about the possibility that these foreign students could come become radicalized and commit terrorism acts.