Trump administration to cancel student visas of pro-Palestinian protesters
USA TodayJAN 29
Trump Order Suggests Deportation of Noncitizen Gaza War Student Protesters
Above: Over 150 pro-Palestinian students marching to demand UCLA divest from Israel over the war in Gaza on the campus in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, Calif., on Nov. 16, 2024. Image copyright: Genaro Molina/Contributor/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Pro-Palestine college protesters, often linked to organizations like Students for Justice in Palestine and Samidoun, have shown they're not innocent activists but terrorist sympathizers. They've praised Hamas's violence, physically vandalized campuses, and intimidated Jewish students. Supporting terrorism while enjoying US education is a misuse of American privilege, betraying the freedoms and protections America offers. Congress should follow Trump's lead and pass a law to rid the country of these students.
Narrative B
Trump's order targeting students for their views on the Gaza conflict is completely un-American. It's not about security but rather using federal law enforcement to silence anti-war voices and punish students for protesting a foreign policy — a direct attack on free speech. This move, which equates peaceful dissent with terrorism, undermines the First Amendment and will have a chilling effect on campus discourse across the country.