U.S. to Revoke Visas of Pro-Hamas Foreign Students Using AI

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 7, 2025 – The United States Department of State, under Secretary of State ​Marco Rubio, has ​launched an aggressive initiative ​called “Catch and Revoke” to cancel visas for foreigners expressing support for Hamas or other designated terrorist ​groups. This program, fuelled by artificial intelligence, aims to ​analyze tens ​of thousands of people who have student ​visas on ​their social networks, marking ​a major escalation in the ​government’s supervision of the discourse and ​conduct of ​foreigners.

Why does ​the US use AI to check student visas?

According to senior officials of ​the State Department, the main objective is ​to ​identify those who expressed sympathy for Hamas after the October 7, 2023 attack on ​Israel. AI-assisted examinations will also allow for cross-checking of internal data to determine whether visa holders have been previously arrested but allowed to ​remain in the ​country during the administration of Biden. In ​addition, officials search news bulletins, campus demonstrations and requests from Jewish students to highlight incidents of anti-Semitic activities by foreigners.

How ​does the Catch and Revoke program ​work?

The program includes a “government-wide and whole-of-government approach,” integrating the efforts of the Department ​of Justice, the Department of ​National Security ​and other federal agencies. ​Since October 2023, federal ​officials have already reviewed more than 100,000 SEVIS (Student Exchange Visitors System) files in which visas have been revoked due to academic arrests or suspensions. A senior official of the ​State Department revealed that “literally zero visa revocation” occurred under the administration of Biden despite numerous protests ​against Israel.

What ​legal basis supports this initiative?

The Immigration ​and Nationality Act 1952 authorizes the Secretary of ​State to revoke visas for ​persons ​considered to be threats to national security. This law was cited ​by Rubio eight days after ​the October 7 attack, stressing the need to eliminate those who publicly ​supported Hamas. Former President Donald Trump reinforced this position until January ​30, 2025, an executive ​decree addressed to visa holders and foreigners who promote an “odious ideology”

What are the concerns ​about freedom of expression?

Civil ​rights defenders argue that the initiative could violate the protections of freedom of expression. Abed Ayoub, head of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, referred ​to the efforts of ​Operation Boulder, a Nixon monitoring programme, against pro-Palestinian activists. “With AI, it’s even more terrifying,” Ayoub said. “They look ​at the speech with defective technology.” Critics are concerned that the broad definition of “pro-Hamas” sentiments can unfairly target people who simply defend Palestinian ​rights or express opinions ​against Israel.

What are the political implications?

The repression is aligned ​with the strong ​pro-Israeli position of the Trump administration, a position strongly supported ​by Republican legislators and evangelical voters. Meanwhile, opposition to Israeli ​military actions in Gaza has divided the democratic ​base. Investigations indicate that many ​Americans are struggling to differentiate between Hamas’ ​support and ​that of Palestinian ​civilians, further ​complicating ​the political landscape. The initiative also comes in the midst of growing tensions in universities, where protests against Israel’s actions have intensified.

What steps have you taken so far?

The State Department confirmed that it had already revoked the visa of at least one foreign student ​who had participated in ​demonstrations for Hamas. “Last night, we revoked a foreigner’s first visa quoted above for ​criminal behaviour in the context of Hamas-supported unrest,” said a State Department official at Fox News. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is now preparing to expel the person.

And then ​what?

Blonde and its equipment plan ​to ​extend AI surveillance to a wide range of ​foreigners, including those applying for new visas. According to Rubio’s ​statement ​on X, “those ​who support designated terrorist organizations, ​including Hamas, threaten our national security. America has zero tolerance for foreign visitors who support terrorists.” The administration is also considering other ​measures, such as conducting ​social media reviews for visa applications and ​expanding deportation ​efforts.

As ​AI-led surveillance is now at the forefront of US immigration policy, the debate on national security and freedom of expression should intensify. While supporters view Catch and Revoke as a necessary protection against extremism, critics warn that it could create a dangerous precedent for government overunity.