More than half of the Republicans in the U.S. Senate reached out to a pair of top officials in the Biden administration on Tuesday demanding “immediate action” to protect Jewish students on college campuses.
The group of 27 GOP lawmakers, led by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona as pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, Yale, and others have led to reports of harassment and acts of anti-Semitism.
“You need to take action to restore order and protect Jewish students on our college campuses,” the letter said. “President Biden issued a statement on Sunday, purporting to condemn the outbreak of anti-Semitism. If that statement was serious, it must be accompanied by immediate action from your departments.”
The GOP senators requested that Cardona and Garland provide their offices “an update” on relevant efforts to enforce federal laws by 5 p.m. on Wednesday. They provided a non-exclusive list of examples.
“Rioting violates federal law,” the lawmakers said. “Violence or attempted violence against anyone because of their Jewish heritage violates federal law. School administrators’ failure to protect Jewish students from discrimination or harassment violates federal law and is grounds for those schools losing access to federal funds. Espousing support for terrorists such as Hamas violates federal immigration law and is grounds for deportation.”
Federal law enforcement and the Education Department “must act immediately to restore order, prosecute the mobs who have perpetuated violence and threats against Jewish students, revoke the visas of all foreign nationals (such as exchange students) who have taken part in promoting terrorism, and hold accountable school administrators who have stood by instead of protecting their students,” the GOP senators added.
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Co-signers included Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), John Cornyn (R-TX), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Josh Hawley (R-MO), John Hoeven (R-ND), Ron Johnson (R-WI), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Jerry Moran (R-KS), James Risch (R-ID), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Rick Scott (R-FL), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), John Thune (R-SD), and Thom Tillis (R-NC).
Hawley also sent a letter asking President Joe Biden to mobilize the National Guard in response to the protests that have led to safety concerns for Jewish students on university campuses across the country.