Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) has called for swift action to be taken against international students who have shown support for Hamas and engaged in disruptive protests on college campuses across the United States.
In a recent interview on “The Hill” on NewsNation, Blackburn emphasized that students who openly declare their allegiance to Hamas and advocate for violence against America and Israel should face serious consequences, including the revocation of their visas and deportation.
Blackburn’s comments come as student protests continue to spread nationwide, with many demonstrators calling for their schools to divest from Israel and support efforts for a cease-fire in the ongoing conflict.
While the protests have largely been nonviolent, some incidents have raised concerns about antisemitism and support for terrorist organizations. At Columbia University, students took control of a campus building, flying a Palestinian flag and barricading entrances, leading to over 1,000 arrests on campuses across the country.
Blackburn argued that if students are receiving federal student loans, which are funded by taxpayer dollars, they should also face consequences, such as having their loans pulled.
She emphasized that university administrators have a responsibility to protect Jewish students and ensure that they are not put in harm’s way.
The senator also suggested that individuals who openly declare their support for Hamas should be added to the terrorist watch list and no-fly list. “If people are looking in the camera and saying, ‘I am Hamas,’ we should believe them,” she said.
Blackburn’s comments reflect growing concerns about the spread of antisemitism and support for terrorist organizations on college campuses.
While the protests have largely been peaceful, some incidents have raised alarm bells, and university administrators are facing pressure to take action to ensure the safety and well-being of all students.