U.S. State Dept to Use AI to Revoke Visas of Foreign Students with Alleged Ties to Hamas

[Social Media]

 

The U.S. State Department, under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is launching an initiative called "Catch and Revoke," which will utilize artificial intelligence to scrutinize and revoke the visas of foreign nationals who appear to support Hamas or other designated terrorist organizations, senior officials told Axios.  

 

This program represents a significant expansion of the U.S. government's surveillance of foreign nationals, particularly through AI-assisted analysis of social media activity. Officials say the effort is focused on identifying expressions of sympathy for Hamas following the group's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Additionally, the review includes searches of internal databases to determine if any visa holders were arrested but allowed to remain in the U.S. during the Biden administration.

 

Officials are also investigating media reports covering anti-Israel demonstrations and legal cases in which Jewish students have accused foreign nationals of engaging in antisemitic behavior without facing repercussions.  

 

The State Department is working closely with the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security in what one senior official described as a "whole of government and whole of authority approach" to the issue.  

 

To implement "Catch and Revoke," federal officials have examined 100,000 individuals within the Student Exchange Visitor System since October 2023 to identify instances in which a visa was revoked due to a student's arrest or suspension from school. Normally, a consular officer who issued a visa would be responsible for revocation once informed of such incidents. "We found literally zero visa revocations during the Biden administration," a senior official stated. "...which suggests a blind eye attitude toward law enforcement."  

 

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 grants the Secretary of State authority to revoke visas of individuals deemed a threat. Rubio emphasized this point as a senator just days after the Hamas attack, stating, "We see people marching at our universities and in the streets of our country... calling for Intifada, celebrating what Hamas has done... Those people need to go."  

 

President Donald Trump echoed similar views in a January 30 White House fact sheet tied to an executive order on antisemitism and so-called "pro-Hamas" activity. "To all the resident aliens who joined in the pro-jihadist protests, we put you on notice. We will find you, and we will deport you," Trump stated. Another executive order, issued on January 20, specifically targets visa holders and foreign nationals who "threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology."  

 

With the implementation of "Catch and Revoke," the U.S. government is taking a more aggressive approach to monitoring and potentially removing foreign students who are perceived as security risks, marking a new chapter in visa enforcement policy.

 

Based on a report by AXIOS  2025-03-08

 

 

[hotsun]

The winning has ceased for Muslims, it seems

[WDSmart]

Although non-citizens are not guaranteed all the rights citizens are, isn't this discrimination based on their political choices? In other words, wouldn't this violate their freedom of speech if they were citizens?

[jcmj]

They are not citizens so they have no rights in the US. 

[Srikcir]

  On 3/8/2025 at 1:55 AM, jcmj said:

They are not citizens so they have no rights in the US. 

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You don't have to be an American citizen to have rights in the US.

If they reside legally in the US they have Constitutional Rights to Due Process of Law as well as ALL the Constitutional Amendments. "We the People" is not limited by creed, race, nationality, gender, etc.

[Chomper Higgot]

  On 3/8/2025 at 1:45 AM, WDSmart said:

Although non-citizens are not guaranteed all the rights citizens are, isn't this discrimination based on their political choices? In other words, wouldn't this violate their freedom of speech if they were citizens?

Expand  

The Constitution only withholds two rights from non citizens, the right to vote and the right to hold Federal Government Office, all other rights under the constitution are held by all person within the U.S. and its jurisdiction.

 

There are historical examples of these rights being withheld from certain groups, usually on the basis of race. Those being some of the most shameful episodes in the abuse of Government power 

 

So yes, foreign students do have the rights of freedom of speech and freedom of association under the Constitution, but also infringement of constitutional rights is and always has been part of the abuse of Government power.

 

Court cases will undoubtedly follow.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

  On 3/8/2025 at 1:55 AM, jcmj said:

They are not citizens so they have no rights in the US. 

Expand  

Patently false:

 

https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/facpub/297/

[Chomper Higgot]

  On 3/8/2025 at 2:03 AM, Srikcir said:

You don't have to be an American citizen to have rights in the US.

If they reside legally in the US they have Constitutional Rights to Due Process of Law as well as ALL the Constitutional Amendments. "We the People" is not limited by creed, race, nationality, gender, etc.

Expand  

There is no clause in the Constitution denying rights on the basis of legality or otherwise of residence. 
 

 

[JimGant]

  On 3/8/2025 at 12:08 AM, Social Media said:

With the implementation of "Catch and Revoke," the U.S. government is taking a more aggressive approach to monitoring and potentially removing foreign students who are perceived as security risks, marking a new chapter in visa enforcement policy.

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Good. No reason why Americans have to tolerate no-value-added trash in our country. Maybe the Air Force will loan one of their C-17s, now being used to cart undesirables back to South America, to reunite these Hamas bums with their camels.

[thaipo7]

  On 3/8/2025 at 2:03 AM, Srikcir said:

You don't have to be an American citizen to have rights in the US.

If they reside legally in the US they have Constitutional Rights to Due Process of Law as well as ALL the Constitutional Amendments. "We the People" is not limited by creed, race, nationality, gender, etc.

Expand  

"We the People" is being abused to much by those on the Left.  Just looking for future voters.  The have nothing to offer now.

[Watawattana]

  On 3/8/2025 at 1:45 AM, WDSmart said:

Although non-citizens are not guaranteed all the rights citizens are, isn't this discrimination based on their political choices? In other words, wouldn't this violate their freedom of speech if they were citizens?

Expand  

It seems different to be showing support to a terrorist organisation versus a political party?  I can't see the US wanting to throw someone out for supporting the British Conservative or Labour Party.

 

Might be some value in that though.... 😂

[kimothai]

There is no place in America for these visiting trash people with a visa to study.  I'm guessing they forgot to mention on their visa application that they would be protesting for a terrorist organization (which in my opinion is a form of lying).   Freedom of speech is one thing but promoting terrorism is another.  The (born) American citizens that are participating in this disgraceful activity should be aware that their actions are recorded, and they have been identified (and listed in a data base).  When corporations do a background checks for hiring, guess what?  Actions have consequences. 

[Donga]

No brainer

[Bkk Brian]

First one down. 

 

State Department revokes first visa of foreign student linked to 'Hamas-supporting disruptions'

"Yesterday evening, we revoked the first visa of an alien who was previously cited for criminal behavior in connection with Hamas-supporting disruptions," the State Department said. "This individual was a university student. ICE will proceed with removing this person from the country."

https://www.yahoo.com/news/state-department-revokes-first-visa-011428166.html

[black tabby12345]

Do they have any chances of "Appeal" where the innocent one was wrongly caught up in the automated search net, to prove he/she isn't anything dangerous?

 

At this time, AI is far from perfect.

They often mistake harmless comments on YouTube contents, for "Hate Speech".

 

Not every Arab won't be a terrorist/or their sympathizer.

Some (westernized one)  genuinely escapes from own oppressive home, to the free country.

 

Just a question from my curiosity...

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

  On 3/8/2025 at 6:41 AM, black tabby12345 said:

Do they have any chances of "Appeal" where the innocent one was wrongly caught up in the automated search net, to prove he/she isn't anything dangerous?

 

At this time, AI is far from perfect.

They often mistake harmless comments on YouTube contents, for "Hate Speech".

 

Not every Arab won't be a terrorist/or their sympathizer.

Some (westernized one)  genuinely escapes from own oppressive home, to the free country.

 

Just a question from my curiosity...

 

 

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All actions by Government age vies are subject to the Constitution, the law and may be challenged in court.

 

The U.S. is not yet a dictatorship. 

[Eloquent pilgrim]

 

 

Excellent, and completely logical; why would America want any foreign nationals in their country that support designated terrorist organisations. No doubt the usual left wing suspects on this forum will be crying about it, in fact, they are already.

 

 

[jimmybcool]

I suspect if a person is in country on a student visa and they engage in protests that promote terrorist groups and violence or threats to other groups that is reasonable grounds to terminate their visa and expel them.  Not sure of any nation on earth where this wouldn't be grounds for expulsion.

 

 

[transam]

  On 3/8/2025 at 7:45 AM, Eloquent pilgrim said:

 

 

Excellent, and completely logical; why would America want any foreign nationals in their country that support designated terrorist organisations. No doubt the usual left wing suspects on this forum will be crying about it, in fact, they are already.

 

 

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Indeed...........🤔

[black tabby12345]

  On 3/8/2025 at 7:34 AM, Chomper Higgot said:

All actions by Government age vies are subject to the Constitution, the law and may be challenged in court.

 

The U.S. is not yet a dictatorship. 

Expand  

 

Hi, thank you for your insightful comment.

Have a good day.

[Social Media]

A post making an off topic attempt at diversion has been removed along with replies.

 

The topic here is:

 

U.S. State Dept to Use AI to Revoke Visas of Foreign Students with Alleged Ties to Hamas

 

 

[Eloquent pilgrim]

 

  

The only safe way is to revoke the visas of any foreign national that is an adherent to Islam; as we have witnessed recently in Munich with Farhad N, it is impossible to know when the fundamentalism of one of them will smash through the facade of respectability and ‘integration’ of any adherent to Islam …. ticking clocks all of them.

 

 

 

 

[placnx]

  On 3/8/2025 at 2:30 AM, JimGant said:

Good. No reason why Americans have to tolerate no-value-added trash in our country. Maybe the Air Force will loan one of their C-17s, now being used to cart undesirables back to South America, to reunite these Hamas bums with their camels.

Expand  

Another waste of taxpayers' money.

[Nickcage49]

Good riddance.

[Eloquent pilgrim]

  On 3/8/2025 at 9:26 AM, placnx said:

Another waste of taxpayers' money.

Expand  

 

How is it a waste of taxpayers money to deport foreign nationals that support terrorist organisations from America … please explain, if you can ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

 

[Bkk Brian]

  On 3/8/2025 at 10:49 AM, Eloquent pilgrim said:

 

How is it a waste of taxpayers money to deport foreign nationals that support terrorist organisations from America … please explain, if you can ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

 

Expand  

He can't, a weak deflection. He'd obviously rather keep them in the US to carry on there scum activities.

[Smokin Joe]

  On 3/8/2025 at 2:10 AM, Chomper Higgot said:

The Constitution only withholds two rights from non citizens, the right to vote and the right to hold Federal Government Office, all other rights under the constitution are held by all person within the U.S. and its jurisdiction.

 

 

Expand  

How about the 2nd Amendment? Do you think illegal immigrants have the right to buy and carry firearms?

[Smokin Joe]

  On 3/8/2025 at 2:03 AM, Srikcir said:

You don't have to be an American citizen to have rights in the US.

If they reside legally in the US they have Constitutional Rights to Due Process of Law as well as ALL the Constitutional Amendments. "We the People" is not limited by creed, race, nationality, gender, etc.

Expand  

 

ALL the Constitutional Amendments? are you sure about that. Personally I think the 2nd Amendment does not allow illegal aliens to possess firearms.

[Bkk Brian]

  On 3/8/2025 at 2:10 AM, Chomper Higgot said:

The Constitution only withholds two rights from non citizens, the right to vote and the right to hold Federal Government Office, all other rights under the constitution are held by all person within the U.S. and its jurisdiction.

 

There are historical examples of these rights being withheld from certain groups, usually on the basis of race. Those being some of the most shameful episodes in the abuse of Government power 

 

So yes, foreign students do have the rights of freedom of speech and freedom of association under the Constitution, but also infringement of constitutional rights is and always has been part of the abuse of Government power.

 

Court cases will undoubtedly follow.

 

 

Expand  

Court cases will undoubtedly follow.

 

Predictions predictions, who cares if there are court cases anyway? It seems you are looking forward to any that may occur.  Meanwhile its a basic application of immigration law, those here on a visa found to be ineligible for that visa, can have their visa revoked. Its really that simple.

 

‘any alien who . . . endorses or espouses terrorist activity or persuades others to endorse or espouse terrorist activity or support a terrorist organization.’”

 

https://ago.mo.gov/attorney-general-bailey-calls-for-removal-of-student-visa-holders-who-support-terrorist-groups/

[Cryingdick]

  On 3/8/2025 at 2:13 AM, Chomper Higgot said:

There is no clause in the Constitution denying rights on the basis of legality or otherwise of residence. 
 

 

Expand  

 

Living in the USA if you are foreign is a privilege not a right. A visa doesn't guarantee entry but it allows you to appear at a port of entry and ask for permission to enter. The notion that you may be showed the door if you engage in an unsavory and possibly illegal behavior isn't unusual. Nobody can take from you your human rights to say stupid things, however a visa to be here isn't a human right.