Deport the Jew-Haters: America Must Draw the Line

The United States is at a crossroads. Antisemitism, a venomous hatred that has plagued the Jewish people for centuries, is rearing its ugly head again, this time on American campuses, cloaked as “pro-Palestinian” activism. As someone who recently spoke with top officials at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), I can confirm what every Jewish reader of The Times of Israel knows in their bones: this isn’t about free speech. It’s about protecting America’s values, its Jewish community, and its unbreakable alliance with Israel from those who spread Jew-hatred and cheer for Hamas. These agitators must be deported, and the Trump administration is finally doing what’s right.

I reached out to DHS and CBP to understand how they’re tackling this crisis, and their resolve is unshakable.

Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin of DHS told me directly: “The Trump administration is enforcing immigration laws, something the previous administration failed to do. Those who violate these laws will be processed, detained, and removed as required.”

This isn’t rhetoric, it’s action. People like Mahmoud Khalil, Leqaa Kordia, and Ranjani Srinivasan, who’ve turned campuses into breeding grounds for antisemitism, are feeling the heat. Khalil led protests accused of glorifying Hamas. Good riddance. America can’t afford to coddle those who excuse the murder of Jews.

Embed from Getty Images

Assistant Commissioner Hilton Beckham of CBP laid it out just as clearly when I spoke with her: “Under the leadership of the Trump Administration, we have seen a sharp decline in illegal immigration. This reduction has allowed our law enforcement personnel to get back to doing law enforcement work, like conducting thorough vetting and interviews. Lawful travelers have nothing to fear from these measures, which are designed to protect our nation’s security. However, those intending to enter the U.S. with fraudulent purposes or malicious intent don’t even try.”

She stressed that visas are “a privilege, not a right,” reserved for those who respect America’s laws. When I asked about their process, Beckham explained, “Any traveler entering the U.S. is subject to CBP inspection. Visa holders found inadmissible upon inspection at a U.S. port of entry may be subject to immediate removal. If an alien that is found inadmissible is unable to return to their country of origin, CBP may coordinate with ICE for detention and removal, as appropriate.”

This is a system built to root out threats, and it’s working.

Antisemitism is a cancer, not a debate. Every Jewish student in America has the right to walk across campus without fear of being hunted for their identity. The Jewish people need protection, not platitudes.

Let’s not mince words: antisemitism isn’t a “viewpoint” to debate. It’s a cancer. Since Hamas’s barbaric October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, these so-called activists have flooded American universities with rallies that parrot Hamas’s genocidal playbook. Jewish students have been harassed, spat on, and forced to hide their identities, all while administrators wring their hands. Columbia, Cornell, Georgetown, these aren’t isolated incidents; they’re a coordinated assault on Jewish safety. The Trump administration’s executive order to deport non-citizen students linked to these protests is a lifeline, not a crackdown. It’s about time someone stood up and said, “Enough!”

American soil must never become fertile ground for chants of “Intifada” and glorification of terror. If your activism celebrates the slaughter of Jews, you don’t deserve a U.S. visa; you deserve a one-way ticket home.

Embed from Getty Images

When I learned CBP uses “strict policies and directives” for searches, including electronic media, to catch terrorism and visa fraud, I felt a surge of hope. Beckham assured me, “These searches are rare, highly regulated, and have been used in identifying and combating serious crimes, including terrorism.” Claims of “political targeting” are nonsense; this is about protecting Jews, not silencing dissent. Every deportee is a victory for every Jewish child who deserves to walk to class without fear.

Israel is under siege, and America must be its shield. Hamas and its apologists want nothing less than the annihilation of Jews. Deporting these foreign agitators isn’t just policy; it’s a moral clarion call.

As Beckham told me, “Only those who respect our laws and follow the proper procedures will be welcomed.”

If you back Hamas, if you spread antisemitism, you don’t belong on their soil, period. Secretary Marco Rubio is wielding that power to defend Jews and Israel, and I salute him.

America must be a sanctuary for Jews, not a stage for their tormentors. Deporting these hate-mongers isn’t enough; it’s the bare minimum. Defending Jews must become America’s moral baseline, today, tomorrow, always.