Rubio pushes resolution scrapping visas for, deporting Hamas backers

Sen. Marco Rubio is trying to fast-track a resolution to revoke visas from foreign citizens living in the US who support the Hamas terror group or its allies.

Rubio (R-Fla.) plans to seek unanimous consent in the Senate for approval of the resolution, which would ask President Biden to carry out deportations, Fox News reported.

Specifically, the resolution calls to boot “any foreign national who has endorsed or espoused the terrorist activities of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah” and other groups.

“America is the most generous nation on earth, but we cannot allow foreign nationals who support terrorist groups like Hamas and march in our streets calling for ‘intifada’ to enter or stay in our country,” Rubio told the outlet. 

His resolution stressed that Hamas “terrorists operated death squads tasked with exterminating Jews, as well as hostage-taking squads tasked with abducting Jews for ransom, propaganda, and torture.”

As the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Rubio is widely considered to be among the top foreign policy voices in the Republican Party.

Other Republicans have conveyed similar sentiments.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) penned a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas Monday calling for deportation of foreigners in the US who back Hamas.

“I write to urge you to immediately deport any foreign national—including and especially any alien on a student visa—that has expressed support for Hamas and its murderous attacks on Israel,” Cotton wrote.

“These fifth-columnists have no place in the United States.”

Former President Donald Trump also called Monday for “strong ideological screening of all immigrants” in a renewed pitch for a travel ban.

But there have been concerns about such a policy having unintended consequences.

“I simply don’t trust the federal government to create and administer an ‘ideological screening’ to prevent terrorism,” Christina Pushaw, the Ron DeSantis campaign’s rapid response director, posted on X Tuesday.

“It would likely end up being used against conservative Americans and anyone who dissents from the narrative. And, a terrorist who wants to come here could just lie about their beliefs.”

Rubio’s and Cotton’s push follows widespread pro-Hamas demonstrations in the US following the Oct. 7 jihadist attack on southern Israel.

“We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence,” read a letter signed by more than 30 Harvard University student organizations last week.

The letter argued that Hamas’ attack “did not happen in a vacuum,” and that Israel imposed an “open-air prison for over two decades” on Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip.

The assault by Hamas killed more than 1,300 people in Israel, including at least 30 Americans.

Another 13 US citizens are unaccounted for, with some confirmed to be held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.