Chicago – January 29, 2025
President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order on Wednesday aimed at fighting antisemitism. The order will also focus on deporting non-citizen college students and others who took part in pro-Palestinian protests.
According to a White House official, the order will direct the U.S. Justice Department to take immediate action against crimes like terroristic threats, vandalism, and violence against American Jews. It will also use federal resources to address the rise in antisemitism on college campuses and in public spaces since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel.
The order calls for government agencies to submit recommendations within 60 days on how to use criminal and civil laws to combat antisemitism. It also mandates the removal of foreign nationals who break U.S. laws.
Many pro-Palestinian protesters, however, argue they are not supporting Hamas or engaging in antisemitic acts. They say they are protesting Israel’s military actions in Gaza, where thousands of people have been killed.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) criticized the order, calling it an attack on free speech and Palestinian rights, and said it was too broad and difficult to enforce.
