Trump’s Controversial Pledge to Deport Non-Citizen Students Involved in Pro-Palestinian Protests

Donald Trump has made a commitment to deport non-citizen students from colleges who have taken part in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, as part of a broader initiative to tackle antisemitism, according to a White House official. During his remarks, Trump emphasized that he believes college campuses are becoming overly influenced by radical ideologies, specifically targeting individuals he describes as sympathizers of Hamas involved in the protests.

An executive order is expected to be signed that will implement "immediate action" from the Justice Department to address what is characterized as violent and threatening behavior against Jewish individuals in the U.S. The order will seek to mobilize federal resources to combat a significant rise in antisemitic incidents since the October 7 attacks orchestrated by Hamas against Israel. In a strong warning, Trump stated that resident aliens participating in the protests would face deportation come 2025 and mentioned plans to quickly cancel student visas for those he associates with Hamas on college campuses.

The backdrop of these developments includes months of pro-Palestinian protests following the attacks and the ensuing Israeli military response in Gaza, which have sparked concerns about rising antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents. The executive order will call for recommendations from agency leaders within 60 days on legal avenues to combat antisemitism and the possible removal of aliens who violate laws.

Critics of the recent actions argue against the President's framing of the protests, asserting that many demonstrators do not support Hamas and are instead advocating against Israel's military actions that have reportedly led to significant civilian casualties in Gaza. The Council on American-Islamic Relations has condemned Trump’s order, labeling it an infringement on free speech and characterizing it as a misleading and excessively broad measure directed at suppressing Palestinian advocacy. Furthermore, Trump has reiterated similar intentions during his 2024 election campaign and previously signed an executive order aimed at restricting travel from predominantly Muslim nations.