Republican Senators Demand Prosecution of ‘Campus Groups Supporting Terrorism’

Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., on Tuesday released a letter from a group of Senate Republicans calling on the Biden administration to “prosecute” pro-Palestinian protestors at college campuses across the country.

Blackburn and Cotton organized the letter, which is signed by more than two dozen Senate Republicans and was sent to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona on Tuesday.

“We write regarding the outbreak of antisemitic, pro-terrorist mobs on college campuses. These pro-Hamas rioters have effectively shut down college campuses and have literally chased Jewish students away from our schools,” the senators wrote.

The letter argues that the anti-Israel protests at Columbia University and other colleges are “directly threatening Jewish students,” noting that “a prominent Jewish rabbi at Columbia University urged Jewish students to flee campus and stay away for their own safety.”

It goes on to call for the Department of Education and federal law enforcement to “act immediately to restore order, prosecute the mobs who have perpetuated violence and threats against Jewish students.”

The Senate Republicans also called on the Biden administration to “revoke the visas of all foreign nationals (such as exchange students) who have taken part in promoting terrorism, and hold accountable school administrators who have stood by instead of protecting their students.”

The letter notes, “Rioting violates federal law. Violence or attempted violence against anyone because of their Jewish heritage violates federal law. School administrators’ failure to protect Jewish students from discrimination or harassment violates federal law and is grounds for those schools losing access to federal funds. Espousing support for terrorists such as Hamas violates federal immigration law and is grounds for deportation.”

The senators conclude the letter with a request for an update on the administration’s efforts to enforce these and other related laws on college campuses by 5:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday.