Trump signed an executive order to combat anti-Semitism, including measures targeting universities.

The Department of Justice has promised immediate actions to identify threats of arson, vandalism, and violence against American Jews, mobilizing all federal resources to combat what the DOJ refers to as "a surge of antisemitism on our campuses and in our streets."

The directive allows for the potential deportation of college students who are not U.S. citizens and others involved in pro-Palestinian protests, a White House representative reported. This concerns participation in protests that could be interpreted as support for a terrorist organization.

"We warn all foreigners living in the U.S. who have joined protests in support of jihad: we will find you and deport you in 2025," Trump stated.

"I will also swiftly revoke student visas for all supporters of HAMAS on university campuses, which are more radicalized than ever," the president declared, reiterating a campaign promise for 2024.

Some student groups welcomed the measures taken. In contrast, other civil rights organizations and several legal scholars stated that this action would infringe upon constitutional rights to free speech and is likely to provoke lawsuits.

"The First Amendment protects everyone in the United States, including foreign nationals studying at American universities," said Carrie DeSell, a senior attorney at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University. "Deporting non-citizens based on their political expressions would be unconstitutional," the lawyer added.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a major Muslim civil rights organization, announced it would consider challenging the anticipated directive in court if Trump attempts to implement it.

The First Amendment stipulates that the federal government cannot prosecute individuals for their speech. However, acts of violence, vandalism, and, in some cases, threats are not covered by the First Amendment.

The attacks by HAMAS and the subsequent Israeli assault on Gaza have led to several months of pro-Palestinian protests, including on college campuses in the U.S. Many pro-Palestinian demonstrators denied supporting HAMAS or engaging in antisemitic acts, stating they are protesting against Israel's military operation in Gaza, which began in response to the HAMAS attack and has reportedly resulted in over 47,000 deaths, reports Reuters. Meanwhile, many Jewish students have complained about violence and threats from protesters.

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