The United States government has announced plans to deport students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed this decision, stating that students who engage in anti-Semitic activities or support organizations like Hamas will face deportation.
According to Rubio, students who fail to disclose their support for such organizations during the visa application process will be denied entry or face deportation if already in the country.
The Secretary further noted that this decision is not about restricting free speech but rather about ensuring that individuals who do not have the right to be in the United States are held accountable.
This move comes after the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested several students, including a Palestinian graduate student, Mahmoud Khalil, for their involvement in protests against Israel’s military operation in Gaza.
Rubio stressed that the US government rejects anti-Semitic activities and will take action against those who disrupt public peace or engage in hate speech.