President Donald Trump has pledged aggressive measures to combat antisemitism in the U.S., promising swift action by the Justice Department against threats and violence targeting American Jews. His latest order directs federal agencies to identify legal avenues for addressing what he called an “explosion of antisemitism” on college campuses and in public spaces following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
According to a Reuters report, Trump’s fact sheet warns that non-citizens participating in pro-Palestinian protests should expect deportation, reiterating his campaign vow to revoke student visas of individuals expressing support for Hamas.
Civil rights groups and legal experts have pushed back, arguing that penalizing foreign students for political speech would violate First Amendment protections. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) signaled it may challenge the order in court.
The directive gives federal agencies 60 days to report back to the White House with enforcement recommendations. Meanwhile, the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict has intensified tensions on U.S. campuses, leading to a rise in reported hate crimes against Jews, Muslims, and people of Middle Eastern descent.
