The U.S. State Department is deploying artificial intelligence to monitor and revoke visas of foreign students it deems as supporters of Palestinian militant group Hamas, according to Axios. The AI-driven "Catch and Revoke" initiative will scan social media accounts of tens of thousands of student visa holders, flagging potential violations.
Fox News reported that a university student’s visa was revoked Wednesday for participating in what officials described as "Hamas-supporting disruptions." U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is set to deport the student.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized on social media that the U.S. has "zero tolerance for foreign visitors who support terrorists," adding that violations will result in visa denial, revocation, and possible deportation. The initiative is being coordinated with the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, Axios reported.
President Donald Trump, who issued an executive order in January to combat antisemitism, has pledged to expel non-citizen students involved in pro-Palestinian protests. He also vowed to cut federal funding to universities that permit what he calls illegal demonstrations. "Agitators will be imprisoned or deported," Trump stated Tuesday.
The initiative has sparked backlash from free speech advocates, including the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which warned that AI tools cannot accurately interpret nuanced political speech. Critics argue that some pro-Palestinian groups oppose Hamas and condemn antisemitism.
Washington designates Hamas as a terrorist organization. The group’s October 7, 2023 attack killed 1,200 people and led to over 250 hostages. In response, Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, per Gaza authorities, leading to widespread displacement and accusations of war crimes, which Israel denies.