Rubio demands Biden admin rescind visas of Hamas sympathizers, plans for new legislation

By Eric Daugherty

Published Oct. 16, 2023, 8:34 a.m. ET | Updated Oct. 16, 2023

<a href=https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/25334126100/> U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Dana Bash speaking at the 2016 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Md., March 5, 2016.</a> (Photo/Gage Skidmore, Flickr)

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Dana Bash speaking at the 2016 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Md., March 5, 2016. (Photo/Gage Skidmore, Flickr)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio called on U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to investigate and revoke any visas of people in the U.S. who have “endorsed or embraced” Hamas and their terrorist attacks on Israel.

“America is the most welcoming country in the world. During Fiscal Year 2022 alone, we issued more than six million nonimmigrant visas,” Rubio said in a letter to Blinken. “However, the privilege of entering and staying in our great country is not afforded to those who wish to do us harm or advocate on behalf of Hamas.”

“I urge you to immediately use existing law to eradicate this hate from our country,” he said.

“In addition, I will be introducing legislation to provide further tools to ensure supporters of Hamas, and other FTOs, do not benefit from our country’s generosity,” Rubio said. “I welcome your input.”

In his letter, Rubio referenced a purported “day of rage” advocated for by Hamas.

Rubio said it’s “extremely concerning” that there have been several pro-Hamas demonstrations, especially on college campuses.

For example, Florida’s Voice documented a pro-Hamas demonstration at Florida State University. Several more occurred across the state last week.

The Florida senator has been outspoken on the war between Israel and Hamas, recently calling Hamas terrorists “savages” for wanting to kill Jewish people.

“These guys are ideological psychopaths, and they’re savages,” Rubio said. “And they would if they could – not just kill every jew they can get their hands on – they would kill Americans in the process.”

“They openly call for that. We should start believing these people on what they say.”

Rubio has placed some blame on Iran as well for reportedly being behind the planning of terror attacks on Israel earlier this month.

“The message needs to be, if the U.S. is attacked, or this thing is escalated that implicates whether its U.S. service members or facilities in the region, whether its Iran directly or through its their proxies, we’re going to hold Iran responsible,” Rubio said on ABC News. “We are going to consider it an attack on the Iranian state and we will respond in kind.”