Tim Scott: US should deport foreign students protesting against Israel

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) called on the United States to revoke the visas for foreign students protesting against Israel.

“The foreign national students on visas who are protesting against our ally Israel should be sent back to their country,” the 2024 presidential candidate said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.  

“It’s devastating to see people in our country celebrating a terrorist organization for the annihilation of our Jewish brothers and sisters,” Scott continued. “Hamas wants to wipe Israel off the map, but they won’t stop there. They also want to eliminate all Jews on the planet and destroy Western democracy.” 

Scott’s comments come as U.S. institutions have faced increased pressure to respond forcefully since Hamas launched its surprise attack on the southern border of Israel on Oct. 7. Many student groups on college campuses have faced scrutiny over statements they’ve released that have been characterized as defending the killings in Israel.

In his statement, Scott did not differentiate between protesting against Israel and protesting in support of Hamas, which is designated by the United States as a terrorist organization. Hamas’s brutal tactics have been compared to those deployed by ISIS.

“Anyone who stands up in support of terrorism and the inhumane murder of Jews should have their visa revoked,” Scott said in the statement. “We have to stop indoctrinating students with the mindset that America is evil and that Western democracies are somehow oppressors.” 

Scott’s statement follows similar calls by public officials, including Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), who recently wrote a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urging his department to deport foreign nationals, including students, who have expressed support for Hamas.

Cotton suggested the Department of Homeland Security start with international students who signed or approved a controversial letter from the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee, which stated Oct. 7 that Israel was “entirely responsible for all unfolding violence” in the region.