(RightWing.org) – Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) recently signed onto a letter drafted with other Republican senators asking Joe Biden to withhold protections for Palestinians under the Deferred Enforced Departure and Temporary Protected Status programs. The correspondence reminded the president of his duty to defend Americans’ lives and seek ways to reduce the level of “terrorist sympathizers” already in the country. Likewise, the Florida lawmaker has been pressing Biden administration efforts to revoke the visas of Pro-Hamas nations already in the US — a feat officials seem unwilling to commit to accomplishing.
On November 15, the State Department Officials finally managed to find the time to respond to a letter Rubio sent to Secretary of State Antony Blinken asking the federal agency to “use existing law” to revoke the visas of Hamas sympathizers staging protests “on American soil.” Stunningly, it took the Biden administration officials a whole month to condescend to send the Florida senator a letter explaining their position on his request — sort of!
In its response, which Rubio posted on his X/Twitter account, the State Department readily conceded that it had “broad authority” under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to revoke visas. The agency also admitted that the Secretary of State previously “designated Hamas as a Foreign Terrorist Organization” under section 219 of the INA in October 1997, a reference to the late Secretary Madeleine Albright.
State Department confirms they have the power to revoke the visas of Hamas supporters and deport them. Now they need to do it. pic.twitter.com/vCXyKufhad
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) November 16, 2023
The letter explained that when State Department officials receive “derogatory information” regarding a visa applicant, they take “immediate” action. Likewise, the agency works with the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies “to ensure every visa applicant is continuously screened” to ensure they remain eligible to travel to the US.
Conspicuously, the State Department’s response failed to offer any assurance that it intended to take action on revoking the visas of possible pro-Hamas terrorists.
In his post, Rubio pointed out that the Biden administration officials confirmed they had the authority to void the Hamas supporters’ paperwork and depart them. “Now, they need to do it,” he concluded.
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