Congressman Nick Langworthy has reintroduced the Veto Your Visas Act, a bill aimed at revoking student visas for individuals who support Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), including Hamas. The legislation, previously introduced in the 118th Congress, would mandate the removal of any noncitizen student found to be endorsing or participating in activities linked to designated terrorist groups.
Under the proposed law, colleges and universities would be required to report students on Exchange Visitor or Academic Student visas who engage in such activities to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). The Secretary of State would then be obligated to revoke their visas, and the Secretary of Homeland Security would begin deportation proceedings.
Langworthy pointed to the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student at Columbia University, as an example of why stricter measures are necessary. Khalil, a permanent U.S. resident raised in Syria, has been under investigation by the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, and State Department for his involvement in anti-Israel protests. His student group has stated its goal is to “challenge the settler-colonial violence that Israel perpetrates.”
“I commend the Trump Administration and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on taking swift action against Khalil,” Langworthy said in a statement. “It is a privilege to come to the United States to study and learn—it is not a free pass to come here and spread hate and support terrorism. This legislation would ensure anyone here on a student visa who supports a Foreign Terrorist Organization will be deported, protecting our national security and making it clear we have zero tolerance for terrorism.”
The bill has gained support from Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX), Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC), Rep. Abraham Hamadeh (R-AZ), Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN), and Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL).
If passed, the Veto Your Visas Act would strengthen federal enforcement against noncitizen students who express support for terrorist organizations, adding legal consequences to current visa restrictions.
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