Rubio Asks Biden Administration to Cancel Visas for Foreign Nationals Supporting Hamas

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) is calling on President Biden to cancel visas for foreign nationals supporting Hamas in the wake of the terrorist group’s unprecedented attack on Israeli citizens near the Gaza Strip.

“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 said in a Saturday release.

Since the attack on Oct. 7 that has killed more than 2,800 people on both sides of the war so far, conflicting demonstrations have taken place across the U.S.

Thousands of pro-Palestine demonstrators gathered in New York City’s Times Square in support. This comes after Reuters reported Wednesday that former Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal called for Muslims to support the militant group that governs the Gaza Strip.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) and other officials said they were deeply disturbed by calls for violence. The city, and others across the U.S., has increased security.

The protest, part of “International Day of Action for Palestine,” also included protestors from the City University of New York at Baruch College, who then joined the demonstration in Times Square.

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Rubio said the Biden administration has the authority to cancel the visas, saying it is critical to do so “for foreign nationals who endorse or espouse terrorist activity, including those who defend or support Hamas by calling for intifada, jihad, or other similar actions to eliminate the Jewish state of Israel.”

Rubio also announced that he would take action himself.

“In addition to demanding the Biden Administration apply our existing laws, I will introduce legislation to force them to act,” Rubio said.

In addition, Rubio said he would pursue legislation that withholds federal funding from colleges and universities that allow pro-Palestine protests, demonstrations and other activities that could be seen to “endorse or espouse terrorist activity or persuade others to endorse or espouse terrorist activity or support a terrorist organization.”

Hamas was designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department’s Bureau of Counterterrorism in 1997.

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