FMEP Legislative Round-Up March 14, 2025

Resource

1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Letters
3. Hearings
4. Selected Members on the Record
5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

New:

1. Bills & Resolutions

TARGETING FREE SPEECH/PROTEST FOR PALESTINIAN LIVES/RIGHTS

HR 2065: Introduced 3/11/25 by McDowell (R-NC) and 9 Republican cosponsors, “To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide penalty enhancements for committing certain offenses while in disguise, and for other purposes.” Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Also see press release, Rep. Addison McDowell Introduces the Unmasking Hamas Act to Strengthen Penalties for Criminals in Disguise; U.S. lawmakers look to add tougher penalties for those who commit crimes in masks (Fox News 3/11/25)

 S. 936 [bill text]: Introduced 3/11/25 by Cotton (R-AR), “A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to apply a 6 percent excise tax on large endowments of certain private colleges and universities, and for other purposes,” aka the “Woke Endowment Security Tax Act.” Referred to the Committee on Finance.  Also see Cotton’s X-thread 3/11/25: “Today, I introduced two bills aimed at reforming the rotten culture on university campuses. First, any pro-Hamas protestor convicted of a crime should be ineligible for federal student loans, and federal student loan relief. The American people should not be on the hook for the tuition of Little Gaza inhabitants. Second, our elite universities need to know the cost of pushing anti-American and pro-terrorist agendas. The WEST Act would tax the largest university endowments to help pay down the national debt and secure our southern border.” Also see: press release – Cotton Reintroduces Woke Endowment Security Tax Act to Tax College Endowments; Exclusive — Sen. Tom Cotton Proposes Tax on ‘Woke’ Universities’ Endowments (Breitbart 3/11/25)

 S. 937 [bill text]:  Introduced 3/11/25 by Cotton (R-AR),”A bill to establish that an individual who is convicted of any offense under any Federal or State law related to the individual’s conduct at and during the course of a protest that occurs at an institution of higher education shall be ineligible to receive a Federal student loan or for forgiveness, cancellation, waiver, or modification of certain Federal student loans” aka the “No Student Loans for Campus Criminals Act.”  Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Also see Cotton’s X-thread 3/11/25: “Today, I introduced two bills aimed at reforming the rotten culture on university campuses. First, any pro-Hamas protestor convicted of a crime should be ineligible for federal student loans, and federal student loan relief. The American people should not be on the hook for the tuition of Little Gaza inhabitants.Second, our elite universities need to know the cost of pushing anti-American and pro-terrorist agendas. The WEST Act would tax the largest university endowments to help pay down the national debt and secure our southern border.” Also see: press release – Cotton: Taxpayers Shouldn’t Pay for Campus Criminals

S. 982: Introduced 3/12/25 by Banks (R-IN) and Ricketts (R-NE), “A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education to disclose campus polices relating to responding to certain incidents of civil disturbance, and for other purposes” aka the “No Tax Dollars for College Encampments Act.” Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

ISRAEL & UAE ARMS SALES

(DISAPPROVING OF ARMS SALES TO ISRAEL) S. J. Res. 32, S. J. Res. 33, S. J. Res. 34, S. J. Res. 34: Introduced 3/10/25 by Sanders (I-VT) and no cosponsors, the first three are joint resolutions “providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Government of Israel of certain defense articles and services.”  All four resolutions were referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. The fourth is a joint resolution “providing for congressional disapproval of the report of enhancement or upgrade of sensitive foreign military related to a sale to the Government of Israel of certain defense articles and services.” All four were referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Also see: Bernie Sanders introduces more resolutions opposing Israel aid, plans to seek votes (Jewish Insider)

(DISAPPROVING OF ARMS SALES TO UAE) HR 2059 and S. 935: Introduced 3/11/25 by Jacobs (D-CA) in the House, “To prohibit the issuance of licenses for the exportation of certain defense articles to the United Arab Emirates, and for other purposes“; and Van Hollen (D-MD) in the Senate, “to prohibit sales and the issuance of licenses for the export of certain defense articles to the United Arab Emirates, and for other purposes.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.. Also see press releases: Rep. Sara Jacobs, Sen. Chris Van Hollen Reintroduce Bill to Prohibit U.S. Arms Sales to UAE Until They Cease Support of RSF in Sudan; Van Hollen, Jacobs Reintroduce Bill to Prohibit U.S. Arms Sales to UAE Until They Cease Support of RSF in Sudan

IRAN & HOUTHIS

(PERMANENT IRAN SANCTIONS) HR 2012: Introduced 3/10/25 by Self (R-TX) and 7 cosponsors (6 Republicans plus Moskowitz, D-FL), “To provide for congressional review of actions to terminate or waive sanctions imposed with respect to Iran.” Referred to the Committees on Foreign Affairs; Financial Services; the Judiciary; Ways and Means; Oversight and Government Reform; and Rules.

(TARGETING THE HOUTHIS) HR 2052: Introduced 3/11/25 by Green R-TN) and 3 Republican cosponsors, “To impose sanctions on the Houthis for attacks on international shipping, and for other purposes.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on the Judiciary. Also see press release: Rep. Green Reintroduces Bill to Crush Iran-backed Houthi Threat

ANTI-PALESTINIAN & ANTI-HAMAS GRANDSTANDING

(WORLD MUST SUPPORT TRUMP PLAN TO ETHNICALLY CLEANSE GAZA, OR ELSE) HR 1136: Introduced 2/7/25 by Ogles (R-TN), “To impose sanctions on foreign persons failing to cooperate with the United States.” Referred to the Committees on Foreign Affairs and on the Judiciary. NOTE: This bill was included in the 2/14/15 edition of the Round-Up as something to watch — but at that time the bill text was not yet public, so its inclusion was based on a guess. Now that bill text is public, we know that this guess was correct.  This purpose of this bill, the “Make Gaza Great Again Act,” is “to specifically ensure the cooperation of Middle Eastern states, excluding the State of Israel, in offering humanitarian entry to Palestinians from Gaza.” The bill would impose sanctions not merely on countries that fail to cooperate with a Trump-backed or Trump-led effort to ethnically cleanse Gaza, but would impose far-reaching sanctions (similar to sanctions on people associate with Foreign Terrorist organizations) on individuals representing such countries [i.e., diplomats, legislators, elected officials. Also see: Exclusive – Rep. Andy Ogles Intros ‘Make Gaza Great Again’ Act to Provide Legislative Heft to Trump’s Gaza Plan (Breitbart 2/7/25 – sorry, missed this when it came out!)

(NO FUTURE ROLE FOR HAMAS IN THE GAZA STRIP) S. Res. 72: Introduced 2/11/25 by Graham (R-SC) and 4 cosponsors (bipartisan), “A resolution affirming that Hamas cannot retain any political or military control in the Gaza Strip.” Resolution agreed to in Senate 3/13/25 without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.  Also see: Graham X-post – “Very pleased and proud that the U.S. Senate unanimously adopted my resolution stating that Hamas, a brutal terrorist organization, cannot be allowed to have political or military control of Gaza. Tonight, the Senate spoke with moral clarity on one of the most important issues of our time. Barbaric terrorist organizations like Hamas are not legitimate and should never wield political or military power.“

 

PROTECTING IMMIGRANTS/MIGRANTS IN THE US

(REPEAL ALIEN ENEMIES ACT) HR 630 and S. 193 (not covered previously in the Round-Up): Introduced 1/22/25 in the House by Omar (D-MN) and having 49 cospsonsors (all Democrats), and in the Senate 1/22/25 by Hirono (D-HI) and 7 cosponsors (6 Democrats and 1 Independent), “To repeal the Alien Enemies Act“, aka the “Neighbors Not Enemies Act.” Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary and the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

(NO ROUNDING PEOPLE UP AND PUTTING THEM IN INTERNMENT CAMPS) HR XXX: On 3/12/25, Rep. Jayapal (D-WA) announced plans to introduce “the No Round Up Act, legislation to repeal the long-dormant immigration law that allowed for Japanese internment during World War II (WWII) as the Trump administration prepares to use it as a means of mass deportation.”

 

2. Letters

3. Hearings

None.

4. Selected Members on the Record

[NOTE: As has been true pretty much every week since 10/7/23, there were lots of posts from Members in support of Israelis being held hostage by Hamas; this week ended with additional tweets praising the Trump Administration after Hamas agreed to release the last of those hostages who has American citizenship]

We Support Deporting Legal Permanent Residents for Constitutionally-Protected Free Speech! (and are happy to pretend this is about Jewish safety/antisemitism)

  • Sullivan (R-AK) 3/14/25: X-post – “Senate Democrats are rallying around the terrorist-supporting, antisemitic campus protesters who harass Jewish students, celebrate Hamas, and call for the ‘total eradication of Western civilization.’ This is reprehensible.“
  • Smith (R-MS) 3/14/25: X-post – “President Biden failed to protect our nation’s Jewish students when they were being targeted and harassed by agitators spewing Hamas propaganda. President Trump is cracking down on this harassment and demanding action from university administrators.”
  • Graham (R-SC) 3/13/25: X-post – “Thank you to the crazy protestors for reminding us all how disgusting the pro-Hamas movement is. Sorry to all the people in Trump Tower who had to experience this garbage. May God bless Israel and may God bless President Trump. As to Mahmoud Khalil: Adios.“
  • Kustoff (R-TN) 3/13/25: X-post – “Mahmoud Khalil is a former Columbia University student with known ties to Hamas. He has organized unauthorized protests and illegal occupation activity at Columbia since the invasion of Israel. Some Democrats’ continued support of him is extremely unsettling. Sadly, it is not shocking. Time after time, radical leftists choose to advocate for terrorist sympathizers. This should be plain and simple: every college student deserves to feel safe on their campus. Thank you @POTUS @realDonaldTrumpfor taking action to root out antisemitic hate and violence.”
  • Green (R-TN) 3/13/25: X-post – “Exhibit A on the moral bankruptcy of Senate Democrats. This individual leads an organization with ties to Hamas that calls for the ‘eradication of Western Civilization.‘”
  • Blackburn (R-TN) 3/12/25: floor statement attacking US universities and students [“…since Hamas’s barbaric attack on Israel on October 7 of last year, many of our Nation’s top universities have abandoned their Jewish students. Instead of providing a place to learn, they have become hotbeds of anti-Semitism, anti-American hatred, and open support for terrorism.“]
  • Cruz (R-TX) 3/12/25: X-post – “America has no obligation to let people in who hate this country.“
  • Crapo (R-ID) 3/12/25: X-post – “College campuses across the country have devolved into breeding grounds for antisemitic violence and harassment. Our focus should be on protecting Jewish students, not a pro-terrorist foreign national agitator.”
  • Bacon (R-NE) 3/12/25: X-post – “Harassing Jewish-American students on college campuses because of anger towards Israel’s policies is anti-Semitism. It is racism. It is hate.“
  • Moody (R-FL) 3/12/25: X-post – “The difference is clear as day: Republicans are fighting to free the American hostages. Democrats are fighting for a terrorist-supporting, anti-American, student agitator with a green card.”
  • Lee (R-UT) 3/12/25: X-post – Gif with the statement on it: “Fight for Americans? The best I can do is the Palestinian guy who wants to destroy western civilization” [in response post by Senate Judiciary Democrats in support of Mahmoud Khalil]
  • Senate Judiciary Republicans 3/12/25: X-thread – “Reports overwhelmingly indicate Mahmoud Khalil is a Hamas sympathizer who espouses violent, anti-American views. Here’s the shocking reality of who Democrats are defending. THREAD Khalil is a senior activist for the Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) student organization. He was CUAD’s ‘lead negotiator’ during the @Columbia protests, which caused multiple injuries, property damage and rampant harassment of Jewish students. Khalil’s CUAD group has called for the ‘total eradication of Western civilization.’ Khalil’s CUAD group publicly supported arsonist Casey Goonan. Goonan is accused of lighting a police car on fire at UC Berkely in protest of the U.S.’s support for Israel’s military operations. By all accounts, Khalil has stoked hatred for America and actively supported a group that foments violence and destruction on U.S. soil. Yet, Democrats continue to stand by him.”
  • Tillis (R-NC) 3/12/25: X-post – “Democrats openly embracing pro-Hamas protestors who want to destroy Western Civilization. Not gonna happen under Trump’s watch.”
  • Scott (R-SC) 3/12/25: X-post – “Yet again, Democrats choose to defend pro-terrorist, antisemitic foreign nationals over the safety and interests of the American people. Disgusting.“
  • Daines (R-MT) 3/12/25: X-post – “We don’t sympathize with terrorist supporters here in the land of the free.”
  • Barrasso (R-WY) 3/12/25: X-post – “President Trump is putting an end to the anti-Jewish protests that the previous administration allowed to infect college campuses.   These hateful protestors terrorized Jewish students and pushed pro-Hamas propaganda. They must be held accountable.“
  • Senate Republicans 3/11/25: X-post – “Sen. Durbin and @JudiciaryDems are more focused on supporting pro-Hamas foreigners than standing up for American citizens. It’s indefensible.“
  • Scott (R-FL) 3/11/25: X-post – “Democrats’ support of terrorist sympathizers is disgusting. If this guy hates America and proudly aligns himself with terrorists, why does he want to be in the United States in the first place?“
  • Scott (R-SC) 3/11/25: X-post – “Mahmoud Khalil’s arrest is a step towards combating the pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic agendas spreading on our college campuses.  @POTUS’s commitment to holding these extremists accountable demonstrates real leadership and true commitment in standing with Israel and protecting American values.“
  • Senate Republicans 3/11/25: X-post – “Translation: Senate Democrats are siding with pro-Hamas protestors.” [responding to Schumer, D-NY, X-post attacking Mahmoud Khalil’s political views but defending his rights under US rule of law and the Constitution]
  • Senate Republicans 3/11/25: X-post – “Yesterday, Senator Durbin said hate against Jewish Americans ‘must be condemned.’ And then @SenatorDurbin and @JudiciaryDems called for releasing a pro-Hamas campus protestor who has harassed Jews. Moral bankruptcy.”
  • Senate Republicans 3/11/25: X-post – “Sen. Durbin and @JudiciaryDems are more focused on supporting pro-Hamas foreigners than standing up for American citizens. It’s indefensible.“
  • Senate Republicans 3/11/25: X-post – “Democrats like @SenatorDurbin voted for an arms embargo against Israel. Now, they want to release the campus Hamas protestors who are causing chaos across the country. Senator Durbin is radically anti-Israel.”
  • Johnson (R-LA) 3/11/25: X-post – “If you are in America on a student visa, and you’re an aspiring young terrorist, who wants to prey upon your Jewish classmates, you’re going home. We will arrest you and send you back to where you belong.” [with video]
  • Owens (R-UT) 3/10/25: X-post – “This individual—who used to work for the Hamas wing of the UN—violated America’s laws and spat at American hospitality. Good riddance.“
  • Blackburn (R-TN) 3/10/25: X-post – “Federal law enforcement should investigate any student in the United States on a visa who has supported Hamas since October 7.”
  • Cruz (R-TX) 3/10/25: X-post – “Promises Made, Promises Kept. Antisemitism has no place anywhere in the United States. This would have never been possible without President Trump and AG Bondi’s leadership.” Linked to White House X-post, “‘We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country — never to return again.’ –President Donald J. Trump “, with pic of Mahmoud with the words, “Shalom Mahmoud”
  • Self (R-TX) 3/10/25: X-post – “We finally have a President who doesn’t back down. Thank you President Trump and @SecRubio. SEND MAHMOUD home!”; re-posted by HFAC/GOP account with comment – “SEND MAHMOUD home!!!” [note that Mahmoud — besides being a legal permanent US resident married to a US citizen and about to become the father of a US citizen — is a Palestinian born in Syria – so not a Syrian citizen and cannot go home to Palestine because…]
  • Mast (R-FL) 3/10/25: Chairman Mast Issues Statement in Support of Trump Administration’s Arrest of Mahmoud Khalil
  • Blackburn (R-TN) 3/10/25: X-post – “The left puts terrorists before citizens. Khalil’s activism propped up terrorist organizations who wish ill on our country. Is this who Democrats want freed?“
  • Cruz (R-TX) 3/11/25: X-post – “Serious Q: if you are a Jewish Democrat, are you happy that Senate Dems are ALL IN in support of pro-Hamas protestors?“
  • Harris (R-NC) 3/10/25: X-post – “Deport every Hamas sympathizer.“
  • Tuberville (R-AL) 3/10/25: X-post – “Federal law bans terrorists or terrorist sympathizers from entering the U.S. If foreign nationals support Hamas, then they should get out of our country and go to Gaza. Don’t let the door hit you.”
  • Van Duyne (R-TX) 3/10/25: X-post – “I fully support the Trump Administration’s crackdown on universities that allow antisemitism to fester. We’re working to deport Hamas supporters here on visas and use the power of the purse to force universities to protect all students’ civil rights“
  • Babin (R-TX) 3/10/25: X-post – “No more free passes for Hamas sympathizers. Stand with terrorists? Then say goodbye to your visa and hello to a one-way ticket to Gaza.”
  • House Foreign Affairs Committee (GOP) 3/10/25: X-post – “Shalom Mahmoud” [with screenshot of Trump post welcoming/justifying the detention and planned deportation]
  • Blackburn (R-TN) 3/10/25: X-post – “Colleges and students on visas are on notice – we will revoke your funding and deport you to Gaza if you support terrorism.”
  • Mullin (R-OK) 3/9/25: X-post – “Obtaining a U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right. Friends of Hamas—don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”
  • Cotton (R-AR) 3/7/25: X-post – “A green card or student visa does not give individuals the right to break our laws, harass our students, and openly sympathize with terrorists. I commend Secretary Rubio for taking swift action and revoking the visas of those involved in criminal activity.“
  • Blackburn (R-TN) 3/7/25: X-post – “Thank you, @SecRubio, let’s keep it coming! I’ve long called for revoking visas of students who support terrorist groups like Hamas.”

We Oppose Deporting Green Card Holders for Constitutionally-Protected Free Speech is Not OK! (even as many of us feel compelled to distance ourselves from and denigrate this particular free speech)

  • Sanders (I-VT) 3/12/25: X-post – “No, Mr. President, you cannot illegally arrest and detain legal US residents because of their political views or opinions. In America, we have a little something called the First Amendment. Throwing protesters in jail is yet another step on the path to authoritarianism.“
  • Murphy (D-CT) 3/11/25: X-post – “There is a young man in jail today for protesting at his college. No charges. No criminal conduct. In dictatorships, they call this ‘a disappearance’. I want to tell you why this case should matter to you, even if you strongly disagree with what he said or did.” MUST WATCH VIDEO
  • House Judiciary Democrats/Ranking Member Raskin (D-MD) 3/11/25: X-post – ““The Constitution guarantees that everyone in our country enjoys the protection of the First Amendment, including the right to speak freely without fear of retribution by the government. We cannot allow this nation to slide into a system of presidential authoritarianism, where people are seized at their homes, arrested, and detained simply for expressing disfavored political viewpoints.  The detention of Mahmoud Khalil is ripped straight from the authoritarian playbook. His arrest sets an extremely dangerous and chilling precedent from an administration that is hellbent on wielding fear and intimidation as weapons to crush political dissent. All Americans, including those who strongly disagree with Khalil’s speech, should be outraged by this brazen attack on our fundamental freedoms.  Meanwhile, House Republicans—even those among them who so valiantly decry censorship and government infringement on free speech—have now turned silent as Trump tramples the First Amendment. In their silence they too are complicit in this shocking assault on our right to speak freely.  Trump is at war with the Constitution. His lawlessness is a threat to our freedom. I am closely monitoring the situation.”
  • Schumer (D-NY) 3/11/25: X-post – “I abhor many of the opinions and policies that Mahmoud Khalil holds and supports, and have made my criticism of the antisemitic actions at Columbia loudly known. Mr. Khalil is also legal permanent resident here, and his wife, who is 8-months pregnant, is an American citizen. While he may well be in violation of various campus rules regarding how the protests were conducted last year, that is a matter for the university to pursue, and I have encouraged them to be much more robust in how they combat antisemitism and maintain a harassment-free campus that protects the safety and security of Jewish and other students. The Trump administration’s DHS must articulate any criminal charges or facts that would justify his detention or the initiation of deportation proceedings against him. If the administration cannot prove he has violated any criminal law to justify taking this severe action and is doing it for the opinions he has expressed, then that is wrong, they are violating the First Amendment protections we all enjoy and should drop their wrongheaded action.”
  • Smith (D-WA) 3/11/25: X-post – “The detention of Mahmoud Khalil is a deeply troubling attack on free speech. I have expressed concerns about protests that cross the line into threats, intimidation and criminal acts and I stand by that. But Khalil committed no crime. He shouldn’t be locked up for expressing his political views.“
  • Senate Judiciary Committee (Democrats) 3/10/25: X-thread – “Just to recap… Mahmoud Khalil exercises his First Amendment rights. But, Donald Trump and Marco Rubio didn’t agree with what he said. A THREAD. So, ICE arrests Mahmoud, claiming his ‘visa’ was revoked. But, Mahmoud explains he’s *not* on a visa, but is a lawful permanent resident with a green card. ICE arrests and detains him anyway. Then, Marco Rubio announces that green card holders will be deported too. His pregnant wife—an American citizen—currently has no idea where he is. This should terrify everyone.”
  • Nadler (D-NY) 3/10/25: X-post – “I am monitoring the situation regarding the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil and look forward to receiving additional information regarding the specifics of this case. But let’s be clear: The warrantless arrest of any legal permanent resident seemingly solely over their speech is a chilling, McCarthyesque action in response to the exercise of first amendment rights to free speech. Such action is a frightening violation of immigration law that will not make Jewish students safer on campus and will only feed the Trump Administration’s political war on education and hollow lip service on discrimination against minorities. If the Trump White House were serious about rooting out antisemitism in America, they should start with their own Administration.”
  • Durbin (D-IL) 3/10/25: X-post – “Detaining a recent grad student for exercising his right to free speech is something we’d expect from Russia—NOT AMERICA. Punishing speech by revoking legal immigration status is dangerous.“
  • Senate Judiciary Committee (Democrats) 3/10/25: X-post – “Free Mahmoud Khalil.“
  • Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) 3/10/25: X-post – “If the federal government can disappear a legal US permanent resident without reason or warrant, then they can disappear US citizens too. Anyone – left, right, or center – who has highlighted the importance of constitutional rights + free speech should be sounding the alarm now.”
  • Jeffries (D-NY) 3/10/25: “Mahmoud Khalil is a legal permanent resident whose wife, an American citizen, is eight months pregnant. To the extent his actions were inconsistent with Columbia University policy and created an unacceptable hostile academic environment for Jewish students and others, there is a serious university disciplinary process that can handle the matter. In the context of the arrest and detention of Mahmoud Khalil, DHS must produce facts and evidence of criminal activity. Absent evidence of a crime, such as providing material support for a terrorist organization, the actions undertaken by the Trump administration are wildly inconsistent with the United States Constitution. A judge has blocked this egregious removal pending further action and, along with Attorney General Letitia James, we will continue monitoring this developing situation closely.”
  • Welch (D-VT) 3/10/25: X-post – “Mahmoud Khalil is a permanent legal resident who is entitled to First Amendment protections like everyone in this country. If Trump starts illegally revoking green cards from people because he doesn’t like their speech, we’re on the path to full-blown authoritarianism.“
  • Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) 3/10/25: X-post – “Violating rule of law, actually. You are shredding the Constitution of the United States to go after political enemies. Seizing a person without reason or warrant and denying them access to their lawyer is un-American and tyrannical. Anyone celebrating this should be ashamed.” [responding to X-post by Katie Miller (wife of Trump Admin official Stephen Miller) posting that the arest of Mahmoud Khalil is “Law Enforcement enforcing the rule of law.”
  • Tlaib (D-MI) 3/10/25: X-post – “Free Mahmoud Khalil. This is straight out of the fascist playbook. Criminalizing dissent is an assault on our First Amendment and freedom of speech. Revoking someone’s green card for expressing their political opinion is illegal. Protesting genocide is not a crime.”
  • Lee (D-PA) 3/9/25: X-post – “Kidnapping an activist and jailing him in the middle of the night is a brazen act of authoritarianism. Punishing dissent by revoking legal status is a dangerous precedent to set.”
  • Jayapal (D-WA) 3/9/25: X-post – “The Trump admin is going after students who have used their first amendment, Constitutional rights. This is unacceptable. Deporting legal residents solely for expressing their political opinions is a violation of free speech rights. Who’s next? Citizens?“
  • Ramirez (D-IL) 3/9/25: X-post – “Criminalizing dissent is part of the authoritarian playbook. And it is being followed step by step by the Trump Administration. We should all be alarmed and standing opposed, because authoritarianism thrives when we surrender our right to dissent.”

Targeting Universities (Ostensibly Over Antisemitism)

  • Owens (R-UT) 3/14/25: X-post – “Columbia expels ‘some’ students who occupied campus buildings on behalf of Hamas. A good start, but more expulsions need to follow.“
  • Green (R-TN) 3/10/25: X-post – “Far-left university boards when they figure out they can’t support Hamas and receive taxpayer dollars at the same time.” [with gif of crying man]
  • Scott (R-FL) 3/8/25: X-thread – “Thanks to President Trump, our higher education institutions are finally being held accountable for their disgusting toleration of violent antisemites and terrorist sympathizers. I was glad to hear he is canceling $400M to @Columbia. Here’s a thread of where he should look next – @UCBerkeley allowed literal turmoil, as Jewish students were scared to go to class, let alone step on campus. Jewish professors and students were targeted, and campus clubs banned and shut down any pro-Israel speakers. | @NorthwesternU allowed an encampment to take over campus, and as the violence erupted, the university negotiated instead of holding them accountable. When Congress questioned the president as to why he made this decision, he defended it. Disgusting. | .@GWtweets in Washington, D.C., was no better. I went myself and saw courageous Jewish students standing up to Hamas sympathizers as they took over the streets and disrupted campus for days before the university finally acted. These schools – and any others like them that allowed this hatred and targeting of Jewish students to take place – must be investigated and punished so this NEVER happens again.“
  • Scott (R-FL) 3/7/25: X-post – “Pres. Trump is right to cancel this federal funding for @Columbia and any higher ed institution that refuses to enforce the law on campus, allowing hate-filled, anti-Israel mobs to take over. Proud to lead the Preventing Antisemitic Harassment on Campus Act to make this law.”
  • Kustoff (R-TN) 3/7/25: X-post – “As a former U.S. Attorney, I know the Biden Administration should have prosecuted the violent, disruptive, and pro-terrorist agitators who have illegally occupied college campuses since the October 7 attack on Israel. Thank you, @realDonaldTrump, for standing up to woke, rogue college administrators who have enabled this chaos. Every student in America deserves a safe and secure campus.“
  • Self (R-TX) 3/7/25: X-post – “Joe Biden coddled Hamas sympathizers at Columbia. President Trump is cancelling $400 million of their school’s federal grants. BOOM.”
  • Nadler (D-NY) and Espaillat (D-NY) 3/7/25: NADLER AND ESPAILLAT JOINT STATEMENT ON TRUMP CUTS TO COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

How dare the Heritage Foundation Suggest Cutting Aid to Israel over the next 22 years????

Other Issues

  • McCormick (R-PA) 3/13/25: X-post – “As Chair of the @SenateForeign Middle East Subcommittee, I am reaching out to ambassadors in the region for the benefit of Pennsylvania, our country, and peace. Was honored to welcome Israeli Ambassador @yechielleiter to the Capitol. A Scranton, PA native who grew up 50 miles from my hometown before emigrating to Israel. Yechiel has a deep understanding of the special relationship between our countries and the region. We discussed defeating Hamas, deterring Iran, and expanding the Abraham Accords.”
  • Ramirez (D-IL) 3/12/25: X-post – “No one more cent. No one more bomb. No one more excuse.  I joined 12 of my colleagues to demand Congress block any current and future sales of arms and weapons to the Israeli government. Phase 2 of the ceasefire must proceed and the collective punishment of the Palestinian people must end.”
  • Sherman (D-CA) 3/12/25: X-post – “It’s up to those Republicans who claim to support Israel to tell Trump: No! No friend of #Israel would put Daniel Davis in a position of power.“
  • Mann (R-KS) 3/12/25: X-post – “Israel is our strongest ally in the Middle East. I met with @AIPAC to discuss ongoing threats to Israel and the life-saving role that U.S. security assistance plays in protecting our Israeli neighbors and friends. Audrey and I continue to pray for Israel, the recently released hostages, and the families whose loved ones never made it out of captivity. I am proud to stand with Israel and look forward to working with the Trump Administration to continue to strengthen the relationship between Israel and America.”
  • Risch (R-ID) 3/11/25: X-post – “The massacre of unarmed Christians and Alawites in northwest Syria is abhorrent – a reminder of why the U.S. should proceed with caution in Syria. The Syrian interim authorities must exercise control over the use of force – militias outside of government control are a threat to the region and Americans.”
  • Graham (R-SC) 3/11/25: X-post – “Congratulations to the Trump Team for negotiating high level discussions between Lebanon and Israel regarding border security. This is a major breakthrough and it is my hope that Lebanon — which is trending in a very positive direction — will continue to engage with Israel and be part of regional peace and stability rather than conflict. Lebanon following the path of peaceful coexistence and integration into the new Middle East would be a major accomplishment for the Trump Administration. It would also dramatically change the trajectory of Lebanon, which has so much to offer the world. Well done.“
  • Fetterman (D-PA) 3/11/25: X-post – “For decades, Iran has sown terrorism and regional instability. As I’ve said, I fully support destroying Iran’s nuclear program.”
  • Schneider (D-IL) 3/10/24: Schneider, Bilirakis Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Reclassify Turkey as a Middle Eastern country
  • Sanders (I-VT) 3/10/25: X-post – “Cutting off humanitarian aid to millions of civilians is a war crime. That is exactly what the extremist Netanyahu government is doing now to Palestinians in Gaza. I’ve introduced resolutions to block billions in offensive arms sales to Israel & will demand votes on these bills.”
  • Dean (D-PA) 3/10/25: X-thread – “There are some troubling headlines coming out about the Israel-Hamas war ceasefire. Let’s (briefly) talk about it.Humanitarian conditions in Gaza are dire. Innocent Palestinians must be allowed basic necessities — food, water, fuel, medical attention. Gazans have been living without steady access for more than a year. The first phase of the ceasefire is over, and negotiations are planned for what will hopefully become another agreement. I urge officials to faithfully participate in these negotiations – for the sake of 24 living hostages and 35 dead, including Americans — and for the thousands of innocents who will be in harms’ way should the war resume.“
  • Moody (R-FL) 3/10/25: X-post – “An anti-Israel bias plagues the UN. They not only failed to condemn Hamas following the October 7th attack, but have done nothing to protect Jewish communities around the world. I met with @EliseStefanik today. She is passionate and committed to rooting out antisemitism at the UN. I am confident that as our ambassador, she and @realDonaldTrump will champion the interests of our greatest ally in the Middle East.”
  • Welch (D-VT) 3/10/25: X-post – “First, Prime Minister Netanyahu blocked all humanitarian aid from reaching civilians in Gaza. Now, his government is cutting off electricity to the more than 2 million people there. These actions won’t make Israel safer. They will only result in more suffering and death.“
  • Gottheimer (D-NJ) 3/9/25: X-post – “We must push back against Turkey’s aggression under President Erdoğan. His goal is to destabilize the region while supporting terrorist groups like Hamas & aligning with dictators such as Putin. Any transgression against our allies—Cyprus, Greece, and Israel—will not be tolerated. Erdoğan’s embrace of Hamas & disregard for U.S. & NATO interests prove he cannot be trusted.“
  • Welch (D-VT) 3/7/25: X-post – “I’ve introduced legislation to restore funding to UNRWA. As Gaza recovers from the devastation of the war, reinstating this small amount of aid to the most effective organization in the region will save thousands of lives.“
  • House Foreign Affairs Committee (GOP) 3/7/25: X-post – “President Trump made it clear to Hamas: release all hostages or you’ll be executed.“

 

5. Selected Media

On the Detention & Potential Deportation of Green Card-Holder for Palestine-Related Views & Protests

Other Stuff