The other day I was reminded that as American citizens that we are all allowed to have and to express our personal opinions, no matter how dumb, on just about anything. Members of ‘The Squad’ in Congress are free to express their personal opinions on the Israel-Palestinian situation.
As perhaps many of you are aware, Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. since 1997, but these Squad reps can express their support for Hamas, as they are citizens of the U.S. which is a free country.
However, the question has come up as to whether or not this freedom of expression applies to those non-citizens who are presently living in the U.S., specifically students on student visas. They can be disqualified under the Immigration and Nationality Act from being eligible for a visa if they endorse or espouse terror activity. While that is normally checked at the time they apply for their visa, holders can also have their visa revoked if they breach the terms of their visa.
The lawmakers highlight a number of pro-Palestinian protests in universities and colleges across the country, including reports of throat-slitting gestures and statements that praise terrorists as “liberation fighters” and “martyrs who have sacrificed their lives for liberation.”
From Fox News:
Nineteen Republican lawmakers are calling for foreign students who are in the U.S. on temporary visas and have expressed support for Hamas to have their visas revoked and be deported from the country — in the wake of the deadly terror attacks on Israel.
Reps. Jim Banks, R-Ind., and Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., — both members of the Anti-Woke Caucus — have led the letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, expressing concern about reports of pro-Hamas demonstrations.
“We write to request information regarding the potentially unlawful presence on U.S. soil of non-immigrant foreign nationals who have endorsed terrorist activity,” they say.
All who agree with these lawmakers, raise your hands. In my imagination I am seeing hundreds of hands go up. Granted these foreign students are paying premium tuition to attend school here, but if they are on temporary visas, and they support terrorist entities, then que sera, que sera, what will be, will be! Out you go!
10/21/23