Trump will expel students who supported Hamas's attack on Israel.

Immediate actions have been promised by the Department of Justice to identify threats of arson, vandalism, and violence against American Jews, along with the mobilization of all federal resources to combat what the DOJ describes as a "surge of anti-Semitism on our campuses and streets" since the attack on Israel by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on October 7, 2023.

"To all foreigners living in the U.S. who have joined protests in support of jihad, we warn you: in 2025, we will find you and deport you," this statement from Trump is cited in a bulletin announcing the signing of the decree.

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

Human rights groups and legal scholars have stated that this measure would violate constitutional rights to free speech and is likely to result in lawsuits.

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

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a major Muslim civil rights group, stated that it would consider challenging the anticipated decree in court if Trump attempts to implement it.

The attacks by Hamas and the subsequent Israeli assault on Gaza have led to several months of pro-Palestinian protests. They have stirred college campuses across the U.S. Civil rights groups have reported a surge in hate crimes and incidents directed against Jews, Muslims, Arabs, and others of Middle Eastern descent.

According to an official information brief, the decree will require agency and department heads to provide recommendations to the White House within 60 days on all criminal and civil authorities that might be used to combat anti-Semitism.

Many pro-Palestinian protesters denied supporting Hamas or participating in anti-Semitic acts and stated that they are protesting against Israel's military assault on Gaza, where, according to health authorities, over 47,000 people have died, reports Reuters.

Maya Berry, executive director of the Arab American Institute, a nonpartisan civil rights group, stated that the group is deeply concerned about the apparent conflation of criticism of Israel with alleged anti-Semitism in the expected decree. Berry noted that the decree would have a chilling effect on free speech in the United States.