U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to instruct federal agencies to identify ways to deport foreign students and resident aliens who broke laws during anti-Israel protests following the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre in southern Israel.
Trump has repeatedly mentioned his plan to deport protesters, notably at donor events and campaign rallies.
In a May, he said, "One thing I do is, any student that protests, I throw them out of the country. You know, there are a lot of foreign students. As soon as they hear that, they’re going to behave."
Over 2,100 people were arrested during pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel protests at college and university campuses across the U.S. — reported various sources. The number includes U.S. citizens and foreign students.
Some sources suggest a significant presence of foreign students at the protests, particularly from countries with historical anti-Semitic sentiments.
The Department of Homeland Security has warned foreign students could face deportation if arrested for participating in the protests — indicating that such participation exists but without specifying numbers.
Organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have criticized Trump's threats as unconstitutional — arguing they infringe on First Amendment rights.
The ACLU stated that revoking visas based on speech would be a clear violation of free speech protections.
