Marco Rubio reviewing Visa status of pro-Palestine thugs arrested at Columbia U

The Trump administration is taking quick action after pro-Palestine protesters were arrested at Columbia University in Manhattan.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the State Department is “reviewing the visa status” of those who took over Columbia University’s library on Wednesday. More than 100 masked anti-Israel demonstrators disrupted students at the Butler Library, leading to dozens of arrests after the New York Police Department (NYPD) was called in.

“We are reviewing the visa status of the trespassers and vandals who took over Columbia University’s library,” Rubio posted on X late Wednesday night. “Pro-Hamas thugs are no longer welcome in our great nation.”

We are reviewing the visa status of the trespassers and vandals who took over Columbia University’s library.

Pro-Hamas thugs are no longer welcome in our great nation.

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) May 8, 2025

“Sadly, during the course of this disruption, two of our Columbia Public Safety Officers sustained injuries during a crowd surge when individuals attempted to force their way into the building and into Room 301,” Claire Shipman, Columbia’s acting president, said. “These actions are outrageous.”

(Video Credit: Fox News)

House Speaker Mike Johnson put the protesters “on notice.”

“Attention pro-Hamas rioters on college campuses across the country: you are on notice,” he wrote on X. “America will no longer tolerate your antisemitic violence, destruction, harassment, and intimidation.”

Attention pro-Hamas rioters on college campuses across the country: you are on notice.

America will no longer tolerate your antisemitic violence, destruction, harassment, and intimidation.

Thank you @POTUS and @SecRubio. https://t.co/XNgyZn849l

— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) May 8, 2025

“Foreign university students in America have been put on notice: if you break the law or support terrorism in our country, we will revoke your visa. This administration will not tolerate noncitizens causing mayhem on our college campuses,” warned the State Department.

NEW: Statement to @FoxNews via US State Dept official re: Columbia protesters:

“Foreign university students in America have been put on notice: if you break the law or support terrorism in our country, we will revoke your visa. This administration will not tolerate noncitizens…

— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) May 8, 2025

Rubio’s announcement about investigating visa statuses aligns with President Donald Trump’s policy, as he directed in an executive order, titled “Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism,” to deport any international students joining protests and directing institutions to “monitor for and report activities by alien students and staff.”

The move by Rubio was applauded on social media:

Marco Rubio is doing fantastic work. Send them back!

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 8, 2025

Deport!!!! They are not just vandals; they are terrorists.

— Amy Says (@amymarkert) May 8, 2025

Marco Rubio has really stepped up in this role. Love it.

— Katica (@GOPPollAnalyst) May 8, 2025

Senior Staff Writer
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

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