Rubio says foreigners who back terror groups, including Hamas, to face deportation

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says foreigners supporting terror groups will face deportation, in a statement issued shortly after Axios reported that his office is planning to use artificial intelligence to revoke visas of foreign students who are perceived as supporters of Hamas.

“Those who support designated terrorist organizations, including Hamas, threaten our national security. The United States has zero tolerance for foreign visitors who support terrorists. Violators of US law — including international students — face visa denial or revocation and deportation,” Rubio tweets.

The State Department’s “Catch and Revoke” initiative will include AI-assisted reviews of tens of thousands of student visa holders’ social media accounts, Axios reported.

At the same time, officials will also launch a probe into whether any visa holders were arrested but allowed to stay in the country during former US president Joe Biden’s administration, the report added.

Axios said officials are checking news reports of demonstrations against Israel’s policies and Jewish students’ lawsuits highlighting foreign nationals allegedly engaging in antisemitism.

It says the State Department will work in cooperation with the justice and homeland security departments to carry out the plan.