Trump plans to deport certain international students

In January, President Donald Trump signed executive orders aimed at foreign nationals promoting hateful ideology and antisemitism, specifically targeting international students involved in pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses.

Activist groups such as Mothers Against College Antisemitism (MACA), the Chicago Jewish Alliance, Zionist organization Betar, and the Shirion Collective surveillance network saw these orders as a long-awaited tool to combat antisemitism in colleges. MACA founder Elizabeth Rand stated on Facebook that international students harassing others on visas "should definitely be deported."

Betar, classified as an extremist group by the Anti-Defamation League, claimed to have provided the Trump administration with names of international students and faculty for deportation, though it did not offer evidence of such a list. A spokesperson, Daniel Levy, expressed satisfaction that the deportation process had begun.

The U.S. Departments of Justice, State, and Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment.

While these orders have not had the same immediate effect as Trump’s first-term travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries, civil rights lawyers argue they may violate free speech protections. Arab American organizations have also signaled plans to challenge the policy in court.

The orders reflect some Jewish activists' willingness to collaborate with the Trump administration on this issue. However, some MACA members voiced concerns, comparing the reporting of foreign students to historical instances of Jews being informed on during World War II.

Major Jewish advocacy groups, including the ADL and the American Jewish Committee, welcomed the executive orders but did not actively encourage reporting foreign students to the government.

The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, followed by Israel’s military response in Gaza, led to widespread pro-Palestinian protests on U.S. campuses. Civil rights organizations documented a rise in hate crimes against Jews, Muslims, Arabs, and Middle Eastern individuals. Meanwhile, both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups engaged in doxing, publicly exposing the identities of students and faculty with opposing views.

CAMPUS SPEECH

Since Trump’s return to office, the U.S. Justice Department announced a new task force to combat antisemitism in educational institutions, while the Education Department launched investigations into alleged antisemitic harassment at five universities.

Trump’s executive orders specifically target international students and faculty for potential deportation. The January 20 order mandates stricter vetting of foreign students from regions deemed security risks to prevent those with “hateful ideology” from entering the U.S. or maintaining their visas. The January 29 order calls for an assessment of civil rights violations tied to pro-Palestinian campus protests, potentially leading to the deportation of affected students and staff.

Legal experts suggest these orders could face legal challenges. Ben Wizner of the American Civil Liberties Union criticized the president's involvement in regulating speech on campuses.

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) reported that several Palestinian students have already had their visas revoked under the Trump administration. The group provided evidence to Reuters, including a revoked visa belonging to a student from Gaza who was not involved in protests but appeared to be targeted based on nationality.

The ADC and other advocacy groups argue that Trump’s January 20 order lays the groundwork for reinstating his prior Muslim ban. They plan to challenge the order in court once fully implemented.

Pro-Palestinian protesters maintain that their demonstrations oppose Israel’s actions in Gaza, not Judaism or Jewish people. They deny supporting Hamas or engaging in antisemitic acts. The war, which began with Hamas militants attacking Israel—killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages—has since led to over 47,000 reported deaths in Gaza, according to local health authorities.

Legally, to convict someone of materially supporting a foreign terrorist organization, authorities must prove concrete actions such as financial transactions, not merely verbal statements, according to Alex Morey of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.

Student leaders at Columbia University noted that most pro-Palestinian protests have been led by American students, as international students on visas are often reluctant to engage in activities that could jeopardize their academic standing or legal status.