President Donald Trump has issued an executive order aimed at combating antisemitism, announcing that non-citizen students who participated in pro-Palestine protests will face visa revocations and potential deportation. The directive, described as a sweeping effort to address what Trump’s administration calls an “explosion of antisemitism on campuses and in public spaces” following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, has sparked widespread debate.
A fact sheet accompanying the order outlined stringent measures, stating that international students who joined pro-Palestine demonstrations should consider themselves warned. “To all the resident aliens who joined in the pro-jihadist protests, we put you on notice: come 2025, we will find you, and we will deport you,” the document read. It also directed authorities to “quickly cancel the student visas of all Hamas sympathizers on college campuses.”
This move has instilled fear among international students who took part in last year’s wave of campus demonstrations, many of which were critical of Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) strongly condemned the order, calling it an “unconstitutional and overbroad” measure that stifles free speech and unfairly targets those advocating for Palestinian rights. “Free speech is a cornerstone of our Constitution that no president can wipe away with an executive order,” the group stated, adding that the vast majority of pro-Palestinian demonstrations had been peaceful.
The executive order emphasizes swift action, instructing government agencies to utilize all “available and appropriate legal tools” to prosecute individuals involved in antisemitic harassment or violence. The order also mandates a comprehensive review of civil and criminal statutes that could be applied to individuals and institutions implicated in such incidents. A key provision requires the U.S. Attorney General to conduct a detailed legal analysis of protests at K-12 schools, colleges, and universities, with recommendations on whether non-citizen students and staff involved in pro-Palestinian activism should face removal.
Historically, U.S. institutions have been required to report information pertinent to student visa determinations to immigration authorities. However, the executive order’s push for broader federal enforcement and the potential obligation to investigate and report on student activism represents an unprecedented shift, raising significant legal concerns. According to the O’Melveny law firm, such measures could face constitutional challenges for infringing on First Amendment rights.
While student groups and civil rights organizations have expressed alarm, some Jewish advocacy organizations have welcomed the order. The American Jewish Committee (AJC) praised the Trump administration’s commitment to tackling antisemitism, arguing that individuals who provide “material support or resources to designated terror organizations” are violating U.S. law and should not be allowed to remain in the country. However, many pro-Palestinian demonstrators have rejected the implication that their activism equates to supporting Hamas, asserting that their protests focus on Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which, according to health authorities, have resulted in over 47,000 deaths.
The controversy surrounding the executive order has intensified following recent legislative changes permitting immigration officers to conduct raids in locations previously considered off-limits, such as churches, schools, and college campuses. The possibility of immigration enforcement operations on university grounds has further fueled concerns among student activists, faculty members, and civil liberties groups.
In an open letter representing students across the University of California’s ten campuses, activists argued that the executive order dangerously conflates advocacy for Palestinian rights with antisemitism. They warned that such a precedent threatens free speech and academic freedom in the U.S. “This order sets a dangerous precedent of censorship, one that discourages students from exercising their rights to express political opinions,” the letter stated.
As legal experts and civil rights groups prepare potential challenges to the order, the debate over its implications continues to unfold. The extent to which it will be enforced—and whether courts will intervene—remains to be seen. For now, international students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests are left in a state of uncertainty, fearing that their activism could result in visa revocation and deportation.
