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2.0

Reported: State Department launches "Catch and Revoke" initiative to revoke visas of students engaged in "pro-Hamas" activity

  1. Original Date Announced

    March 6, 2025

    Axios reports that the State Department, in conjunction with the DOJ and DHS, is launching the "Catch and Revoke" initiative to revoke the visas of foreign national students who appear to support Hamas or other designated terrorist groups. The initiative will utilize AI to review student visa holders' social media accounts for expressions of sympathy toward Hamas following the group’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Officials also plan to examine internal databases, such as the Student Exchange Visitor System, as well as news reports and lawsuits filed by Jewish students, to determine whether any visa holders were arrested in connection with antisemitic or allegedly pro-terrorist campus protests.

    Trump 2.0 [ID #1593]

    2025.03.06 State Dept. to use AI to revoke visas of foreign students who appear "pro-Hamas" - Axios
  2. Subsequent Trump and Court Action(s)

    • March 9, 2025

      2025.03.09 Reported: DHS Detains Palestinian Student from Columbia Encampment, Advocates Say - Zeteo

      Zeteo reports that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials detained Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian recent graduate of Columbia University who participated in recent protests. Zeteo reports that "[t]he agents claimed that the State Department had revoked Khalil’s student visa . . . [b]ut Khalil, according to advocates, has a green card . . . after a moment, the agent claimed that the State Department had 'revoked that too.'" When Zeteo requested comment from DHS, they were referred to the White House.

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    • March 9, 2025

      2025.03.09 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus - M.K. v. Joyce

      Mahmoud Khalil filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the Southern District of New York, arguing that his detention by ICE was impermissible viewpoint discrimination under the First Amendment and a violation of Khalil's due process rights under the Fifth Amendment. The petition demands his immediate release pending adjudication. M.K. v. Joyce, No. 1:25-cv-01935 (S.D.N.Y.).

      **Litigation entries are limited to initial complaints and major substantive rulings. For pleadings and additional information, use name and docket number to search Civil Rights Clearinghouse and CourtListener or visit Just Security Litigation Tracker**

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    • March 10, 2025

      2025.03.10 Reported: Trump Administration Seeks to Expel a Green-Card Holder Over Student Protests

      The New York Times reports that the Trump administration is invoking 8 USC § 1227(a)(4)(C) as the ground to both detain and deport Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil. § 1227(a)(4)(C) makes deportable any noncitizen "whose presence or activities in the United States the Secretary of State has reasonable ground to believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States."

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    • March 10, 2025

      2025.03.10 Notice of Conference and Stay of Removal - M.K. v. Joyce

      In response to Mahmoud Khalil's petition for writ of habeas corpus against ICE, Judge Jesse Furman ordered that "[t]o preserve the Court's jurisdiction pending a ruling on the petition, Petitioner shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the Court orders otherwise." M.K. v. Joyce, No. 1:25-cv-01935 (S.D.N.Y.).

      *see litigation note above*

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    • March 11, 2025

      2025.03.11 Reported: Rubio approves detention of additional activist - Priscilla Alvarez CNN

      CNN's Priscilla Alvarez reports that "Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved the use of a broad immigration authority to detain Mahmoud Khalil and another activist on Saturday."

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Current Status

None

Original Trump Policy Status

Trump Administration Action: Agency Directive
Agencies Affected: DOS DHS DOJ

Commentary

  • 2025.03.09 Prof. Evan Bernick argues that 8 USC § 1227(a)(4)(C) is unconstitutional - X

    On X, Professor Evan Bernick argues 8 USC § 1227(a)(4)(C), the INA provision possibly invoked to pursue removal of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, "seems facially unconstitutional. Vagueness, procedural due process, maybe even nondelegation." Bernick notes that Massieu v. Reno, 915 F. Supp. 681 (D.N.J. 1996), rev'd on other grounds, 91 F.3d 416 (3d Cir. 1996), held the statute was unconstitutional.

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