Congressman Langworthy Introduces Bill to Remove Visa and Begin Deportation Process for Any Students Supportive of Foreign Terrorist Organizations
Washington, D.C. – March 18— Today, Congressman Nick Langworthy reintroduced the Veto Your Visas Act, which would revoke the student visas of those involved in support of any Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), including Hamas. This bill was previously introduced in the 118th Congress.
Specifically, this bill would require institutions of higher education to immediately report to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) if they become aware that a student on an Exchange Visitor or Academic Student nonimmigrant visa has participated in or endorsed activities in support of a foreign terrorist organization. It would also direct the Secretary of State to revoke the visa of a student if they have supported a FTO. Upon visa revocation, the Secretary of Homeland Security would be required to begin removal proceedings against the student.
The recent actions of student Mahmoud Khalil during the protests against Israel at Columbia University prompted the Trump Administration to take action. Khalil is a Palestinian raised in Syria and currently a permanent U.S. resident. He has stated his student group’s primary goal is to “challenge the settler-colonial violence that Israel perpetrates.” Currently, the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, and State Department are investigating Khalil as a possible national security threat. The actions that Kahlil took to support a FTO illustrates how necessary it is to have legislative statute in place to deter this from ever happening again.
“I commend the Trump Administration and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on taking swift action against Khalil. It is a privilege to come to the United States to study and learn—it is not a free pass to come here and spread hate and support terrorism. This legislation would ensure anyone here on a student visa who supports a Foreign Terrorist Organization will be deported, protecting our national security and making it clear we have zero tolerance for terrorism,” Congressman Langworthy said in a statement on Tuesday.
This bill is cosponsored by Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX), Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC), Rep. Abraham Hamadeh (R-AZ), Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN), and Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL).
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