Ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, the World Betar Movement has launched a controversial campaign targeting foreign students involved in anti-Israel activities on American campuses. The organization, known for its Zionist activism, has begun compiling a list of foreign students holding U.S. study visas who have participated in or led anti-Israel demonstrations. This initiative aligns with Trump’s pre-election promise to expel foreign students or protesters who express support for terrorism or engage in antisemitic activities.
Betar has identified approximately 30 such students, from countries including Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Canada and the United Kingdom, enrolled at prestigious institutions such as Columbia, the University of Pennsylvania, Michigan, UCLA, Carnegie Mellon and George Washington University. Ross Glick, director of Betar in the United States, revealed that the organization is employing advanced technologies like facial recognition and sophisticated databases to track these individuals. “We are processing vast amounts of video to identify those foreigners who promote hatred and support Hamas,” Glick stated.
The movement is reportedly in contact with potential Trump administration officials to pursue legal action against these students and prevent what they view as the exploitation of the American academic system for anti-Israel purposes. Yigal Brand, CEO of the World Betar leadership, emphasized their commitment to combating anti-Semitism on campuses, stating, “We will not allow campuses to become a platform for spreading hatred and antisemitism.”
This initiative follows Trump’s campaign rhetoric, where he pledged to revoke the student visas of those engaging in antisemitic activities. Trump has previously stated, “Those who support Hamas on college campuses will be given the choice to go home or go to jail.” The Republican National Committee (RNC) has also approved a resolution to combat antisemitism and expel “Hamas radicals” from the United States, further aligning with Betar’s objectives.
The RNC’s resolution calls for the deportation of foreign nationals who express support for Hamas or engage in antisemitic activities. It also advocates for the revocation of visas for students and faculty involved in such activities and urges universities to take action against campus groups promoting antisemitism.
