Trump Signs Executive Order to Combat Antisemitism, Vows to Deport Pro-Palestinian Protesters

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order targeting antisemitism and pledging to deport non-citizen college students involved in pro-Palestinian protests. The order directs the Justice Department to prosecute crimes such as vandalism, violence, and threats against Jewish communities, citing a rise in antisemitic incidents since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

Trump vowed to revoke student visas for those he called "Hamas sympathizers" and stated, "Come 2025, we will find you, and we will deport you." His administration also ordered a review of legal actions against universities over civil rights violations linked to pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

Rights groups argue the measure threatens First Amendment protections. Legal scholars, including Columbia University's Knight First Amendment Institute, warn that deporting individuals based on political speech is unconstitutional. The Council on American-Islamic Relations and other civil rights organizations signaled potential legal challenges.

Pro-Palestinian protesters deny supporting Hamas or antisemitism, emphasizing their opposition to Israel’s military actions in Gaza, where over 47,000 people have reportedly been killed. Critics, such as the Arab American Institute, argue that equating criticism of Israel with antisemitism could stifle free speech.

The order mandates federal agencies to provide a 60-day report outlining all legal avenues for combating antisemitism, including potential actions against "alien students and staff" involved in campus protests. It underscores the administration’s broader crackdown on what it calls radicalism on college campuses.

The executive order is expected to ignite legal battles over free speech, immigration policy, and campus activism, shaping political and legal debates ahead of the 2024 election.