Austin News

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has joined Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Representative Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) in questioning the Biden-Harris Administration's approach to handling visas for individuals linked to terrorist organizations. The inquiry was directed at U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and U.S. Department of State Secretary Anthony Blinken.

In their letter, the members of Congress stated, "It is clear under the law that anyone in the country who is a non-citizen should have their visa revoked or be denied entry into the United States if they support Hamas or other terrorist organizations. Failure to enforce these provisions of our laws not only undermines the legitimacy and integrity of the executive and legislative branches as well as that of our Constitution but also dishonors those who fled to this country from the same hate that is now spreading across this country."

The letter was co-signed by Senators Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.). Representatives Keith Self (R-Texas-3), James Moylan (R-Guam), Nancy Mace (R-SC-1), Ralph Norman (R-SC-5), Randy Weber (R-Texas-14), Brian Mast (R-Fla.-21), Joe Wilson (R-SC-2), Michael Waltz (R-Fla.-6), Jerry Carl (R-Ala.-1), Bill Posey (R-Fla.-8), Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.-2), Clay Higgins (R-La.-3), Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY-4) and Brad Wenstrup(R-Ohio-2) also signed it.

The letter highlighted an increase in antisemitic incidents following Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. It cited a report from the Anti-Defamation League indicating a 388 percent rise in such incidents from October 7 to October 23, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022.

"Even in Washington, D.C., we are seeing blatant examples of violent antisemitism," noted the lawmakers. They referred specifically to events on July 24, 2024, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Congress amid protests at Union Station where participants burned an American flag and vandalized monuments with pro-Hamas slogans.

While acknowledging Americans' First Amendment rights, they argued these protections should not extend to non-citizens currently residing in or seeking entry into the United States.

The lawmakers referenced Section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 which states any alien endorsing or supporting terrorist activities is inadmissible. They emphasized that aliens found favoring Hamas should be ruled inadmissible or removed if already present in the country.

"We request answers to several questions," they wrote, including whether DHS and State Department are working with universities to identify visa holders supporting Hamas, how many visas have been revoked since October 7, 2023, actions taken against protestors involved in specific incidents on July 24, and overall measures ensuring terrorists are not granted visas.

They requested responses by October 11, 2024.

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