Rubio vows to revoke US visas of Hamas supporters, signaling hard-line Trump policy

Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a stark warning on Sunday to foreign nationals in the United States who support Hamas, the Palestinian militant group classified as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government. “We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported,” Rubio declared in a social media post on March 9, 2025. The statement reflects the Trump administration’s aggressive stance on national security and immigration, amplifying a crackdown on perceived extremism within U.S. borders.

Rubio’s pledge comes as pro-Palestinian activism has surged across the United States, fueled by the war in Gaza that erupted after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed about 1,200 people and saw over 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities. Israel’s retaliatory campaign has claimed more than 48,000 Palestinian lives, per Gaza officials, igniting protests in American cities and on college campuses. Some demonstrations have drawn sharp criticism from Rubio and other officials, who accuse participants of endorsing Hamas—a charge that has now translated into a concrete policy aimed at visa holders and green card recipients.

A Tech-Driven Purge

As Secretary of State, Rubio wields broad authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 to revoke visas for individuals deemed threats to national security or public safety, including those who back terrorist groups. The State Department, under his direction, has launched what officials describe as an “AI-fueled ‘Catch and Revoke’ effort” to identify such individuals. The initiative relies on artificial intelligence to scour social media posts since October 7, 2023, for signs of “terrorist sympathies,” cross-references internal databases for visa holders linked to anti-Israel protests, and coordinates with the Justice and Homeland Security Departments to hasten deportations.

Early signs of enforcement are already visible. In early March 2025, the State Department canceled the visa of a foreign student tied to “Hamas-supporting disruptions” at a university, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tasked with removal. Separately, a Palestinian graduate student at Columbia University, a key figure in a 2024 pro-Palestine encampment, was detained by immigration agents in late February, just before Rubio’s announcement. These cases underscore the policy’s intent: to swiftly expel non-citizens perceived as crossing a line from protest to terrorism advocacy.

Legal Roots and Political Echoes

The policy rests on firm legal ground. Under 8 U.S.C. 1182, foreign nationals who “endorse or espouse terrorist activity” or support groups like Hamas are inadmissible to the U.S. Rubio has championed this approach for years. As a senator in October 2023, he pushed a resolution to deport Hamas supporters and later introduced the Terrorist Inadmissibility Codification Act, which sought to enshrine such powers in law—though it stalled amid Democratic concerns over free speech and due process. Now, as a cabinet member in President Trump’s second term, Rubio is turning rhetoric into action, backed by Trump’s January 2025 executive orders targeting antisemitism and “pro-jihadist” behavior. Trump has vowed to deport non-citizens involved in such protests and penalize universities hosting them, aligning with Rubio’s hard-line vision.

A Nation Divided

Rubio’s move has sharpened an already polarized debate. Supporters, including administration allies, hail it as a vital safeguard, arguing that federal law and past precedents—like visa revocations during Trump’s first term—justify targeting foreign nationals who back terrorism. “The U.S. can’t be a safe haven for those cheering on Hamas,” a State Department official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal policy.

Critics, however, see a dangerous overreach. Civil rights groups, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, warn that AI-driven social media scans could misread dissent as extremism, conflating criticism of Israel with support for Hamas. “This risks chilling free expression, even for non-citizens,” said a spokesperson, noting that the First Amendment, while not fully protecting foreign nationals, sets a precedent for open discourse. Some fear the policy could snare students or workers whose activism—however strident—falls short of illegal intent, raising questions about fairness and transparency.

An Escalating Stance

As of March 10, 2025, Rubio’s initiative is just beginning to unfold. The State Department has promised “zero tolerance” for foreign visitors supporting terrorists, but key details—how many visas will be revoked, how “support” is defined, and how appeals will be handled—remain murky. Legal challenges are likely, echoing disputes from Trump’s earlier travel bans. Yet Rubio’s statement, paired with Trump’s backing, signals a broader shift: a government intent on wielding immigration as a cudgel against ideological foes, real or perceived.

For now, the policy hangs over America’s foreign residents like a storm cloud—a bold, divisive gambit in a nation still grappling with the echoes of October 7 and its aftermath.