( Post Millennial )
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Wednesday that foreign college students could face deportation if they are suspended on campus while holding a student visa. This announcement comes amidst a backdrop of anti-Israel protests that have erupted on various campuses nationwide.
Senator Marsha Blackburn took to social media on Sunday, advocating for the immediate deportation of all foreign students in the U.S. who engage in protests supporting Hamas. Additionally, she proposed the revocation of federal student loans for any American students arrested for backing the Palestinian terrorist group.
According to a report from Fox News, DHS’ Homeland Security Investigations stated that international students are considered to be “in status” as long as they are making progress in their academic courses. However, if a student faces suspension, it could potentially jeopardize their status, leading to removal proceedings.
"A temporary suspension, even if that were a final determination for a student, does not necessarily mean that the student would fall below ‘normal progress’ in his/her course of study," a DHS spokesperson said.
"If a student were to be suspended, DHS would need reason to believe that the student would not be able to make normal progress in his/her course of study," the spokesperson continued. "And if it believed a suspension merited that type of decision, it would have to initiate removal proceedings, which would be done on a case-by-case basis in conjunction with U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA)."
Ultimately, the decision to deport a foreign national rests with an immigration judge, and the Department of Homeland Security does not have the authority to revoke visas. Visa revocations are typically handled by the State Department and may not necessarily lead to deportation proceedings, but they do prevent future entry into the United States.