If you are a foreign student who is a supporter of Palestinian Hamas militants and living in the United States then maybe there is a high chance that your visa will be revoked as the US is planning to revoke such visas, according to the Reuters citing Axios.
The state department is planning to deploy artificial intelligence technology to cancel visas of international students that seems to be supportive of Hamas.
Following Trump’s January executive order against antisemitism, the administration aims to remove non-citizen university students participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, which have continued throughout Israel’s military campaign in Gaza following Hamas’ October 2023 assault.
The AI-fueled “Catch and Revoke” effort will include AI-assisted reviews of tens of thousands of student visa holders’ social media accounts, Axios reported.
Officials are reviewing media coverage of anti-Israel demonstrations and examining legal complaints from Jewish students regarding alleged antisemitic behaviour by foreign nationals, according to the report.
Whilst some Jewish organisations support Palestinian causes and numerous protesters oppose both antisemitism and Hamas, instances of religious prejudice have occurred at both pro-Palestinian gatherings and pro-Israeli counter-demonstrations.
The initiative involves collaboration between state department, justice department and homeland security, Axios reported.
Trump announced plans to withdraw funding from educational institutions permitting what he terms unlawful protests.
“Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or .. arrested,” Trump stated on Tuesday.
Constitutional protections for free speech and assembly exist under the First Amendment. Civil rights organisations have criticised Trump’s stance towards protesters.
The US government classifies Hamas as a “foreign terrorist organisation.”
According to Israeli figures, the Islamist group’s October 7, 2023 attack resulted in 1,200 deaths and over 250 hostages.
Gaza authorities report that Israel’s subsequent military operation has caused more than 48,000 Palestinian casualties, displaced nearly the entire population, and prompted allegations of genocide and war crimes, which Israel contests.
