Activist groups such as Mothers Against College Antisemitism (MACA), the Chicago Jewish Alliance, and Betar USA – a Zionist organization described as extremist by Jewish advocacy group Anti‑Defamation League – have welcomed the measures, urging supporters to report international students to authorities.
“If students are here on visas and harassing our kids, they should definitely be deported,” MACA founder Elizabeth Rand wrote on social media. Betar spokesperson Daniel Levy claimed his group provided names of foreign students and faculty to the Trump administration, though it did not furnish evidence of any list.
Controversy on campus
Civil rights lawyers warn these directives could violate free‑speech protections, while Arab American groups say they plan to challenge them in court. The orders follow months of pro‑Palestinian demonstrations on U.S. campuses after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, and Israel responded with a large‑scale offensive in Gaza.
Major American Jewish organizations, including the ADL and AJC, back the administration’s crackdown on antisemitism but stop short of encouraging reporting visa holders.
Some pro‑Palestinian students say they oppose Hamas and are protesting Israel’s actions in Gaza, where tens of thousands have been killed according to local health authorities.
The American‑Arab Anti‑Discrimination Committee (ADC) says at least one Palestinian student had her visa revoked solely based on national origin.
New task forces, possible legal hurdles
The Justice and Education Departments have announced tougher stances on campus antisemitism, and Trump’s January 20 and January 29 orders call for enhanced vetting of foreign students and possible removal of those who join pro‑Palestinian protests. Civil rights advocates, however, argue the directives may not withstand judicial scrutiny.
“The president should not be in the business of policing speech on college campuses,” said Ben Wizner of the ACLU.
Meanwhile, ADC director Abed Ayoub contends that “our international students are being targeted,” indicating an impending legal battle over free speech and immigration policy.
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Source: Reuters