TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida’s Attorney General Ashley Moody is pressing the Biden administration for urgent action in revoking student visas tied to antisemitic activities on U.S. college campuses. In a coordinated effort with 19 other state attorneys general, Moody has sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. The letter demands the swift removal of foreign student visa holders found to be endorsing terrorism or providing support to terrorist organizations.
Moody highlighted the alarming rise in antisemitic incidents and the increased threats of violence, particularly following the recent Hamas attacks. She is calling for a renewed scrutiny of foreign student visa holders, focusing on those who have shown support for terrorist activities or groups.
This action follows the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in significant casualties and has seemingly sparked a rise in antisemitic activities and threats against Jewish students on college campuses. The concern is heightened by the involvement of Students for Justice in Palestine, a group connected to Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad—both designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. Department of State. The group has been actively encouraging demonstrations on various campuses.
According to the Immigration and Nationality Act, individuals who endorse or support terrorist activities or organizations are ineligible for U.S. visas and admission into the country. Additionally, providing material support to foreign terrorist organizations is a federal offense.
The coalition of attorneys general supporting this initiative includes representatives from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia.