'Shouldn't We Be Deporting These Students?': Hawley Questions Witness About Non-Citizen Protesters

Forbes Breaking News
8 May 202406:16

Summary

TLDRIn a Senate hearing, Senator Holly addresses Mr. PCO, the representative of an organization that supports undocumented young people for college and career success, including providing scholarships. The Senator raises concerns about undocumented students participating in campus encampments and inciting violence, citing a Columbia University student's involvement and inflammatory slogans at George Washington University. The Senator questions the panel on whether such students should be deported, especially if they are inciting violence or violating laws. The discussion emphasizes the need to uphold the character of the country and send a clear message against violence and illegal activities, suggesting the cancellation of student visas for those involved.

Takeaways

  • 📚 The organization at the center of the discussion provides support for undocumented young people for college and career success, including scholarships.
  • 🤔 The speaker is unsure if any of the students who received scholarships are part of the encampments on college campuses or have been involved in any violent activities.
  • 📰 A report from NBC News is referenced, highlighting an undocumented immigrant student from Columbia University who participated in an encampment, raising concerns about illegal activities on campus.
  • 🔥 Disturbing actions by students in encampments are detailed, including the burning of the U.S. flag and the promotion of anti-Semitic slogans.
  • 🗣️ There are allegations of direct threats and incitement against Jewish students, including calls for violence and beheadings.
  • 🏛️ The speaker questions the appropriateness of allowing undocumented students who are engaging in illegal activities and inciting violence to remain in the country.
  • 🤷‍♂️ There is a notable silence from the panel when asked if anyone disagrees with the notion of deporting students involved in such activities.
  • 🇺🇸 The speaker advocates for a strong moral stance against violence and illegal activities, suggesting deportation for undocumented students and cancellation of visas for international students involved in such acts.
  • 📉 The speaker calls for the cancellation of student visas for those participating in violent activities, emphasizing the need to send a clear message against such behavior.
  • 🌟 The importance of character and moral values in representing the country is highlighted, with a call for unity in condemning violence and illegal actions by students.
  • ⚖️ The speaker concludes by emphasizing the need for a unified moral voice against violence and illegal activities, particularly those targeting Jewish students.

Q & A

  • What is the primary purpose of the organization mentioned in the transcript?

    -The organization primarily provides support for undocumented young people for college and career success, which includes offering scholarships to these students.

  • What is the concern raised by the speaker regarding the students who receive scholarships from the organization?

    -The speaker is concerned whether any of the students who received scholarships are part of the illegal encampments on college campuses and if they have been involved in activities that threaten or incite violence against Jewish students.

  • What is the reported activity that the speaker finds particularly concerning?

    -The speaker is particularly concerned about the reported activities of students in encampments, such as burning the United States flag, calling for the death of Jewish students, and advocating for violence against the state of Israel.

  • What is the speaker's stance on undocumented students who engage in such activities?

    -The speaker believes that undocumented students who are involved in illegal activities and incite violence should be deported, and if they are on a student visa, their visas should be canceled.

  • What does the speaker suggest should be the collective response to such behavior?

    -The speaker suggests that there should be a unified moral voice condemning the behavior, emphasizing that the United States will not tolerate threats of violence or acts of violence, especially against Jewish students.

  • What is the role of the panel in the discussion?

    -The panel is expected to provide insights and possibly defend or challenge the speaker's stance on the deportation and visa cancellation of students involved in such activities.

  • What is the context of the '7th of October' mentioned by the speaker?

    -The '7th of October' seems to be a reference to a specific incident or date that has significance to the Jewish students being threatened, although the exact context is not provided in the transcript.

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  • Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of character in the country's response?

    -The speaker emphasizes the importance of character to send a clear message that the United States stands against violence and illegal activities, and to uphold the moral standards of the country.

  • What is the speaker's view on the actions of the students who are part of the encampments?

    -The speaker views the actions of the students in the encampments as unlawful and morally reprehensible, particularly when it involves threats of violence and destruction of property.

  • What does the speaker imply about the responsibility of the organization providing scholarships?

    -The speaker implies that the organization has a responsibility to ensure that the students it supports do not engage in illegal activities or incite violence, and to take a stance against such behavior.

  • What is the significance of the speaker quoting directly from news reports and public records?

    -The speaker is using direct quotes to substantiate the claims of illegal activities and violent rhetoric, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation and the need for action.

  • What is the speaker's proposed action for those who are here on a student visa and part of such activities?

    -The speaker proposes that those on a student visa who are part of these activities should have their visas canceled, sending a clear message against such behavior.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Undocumented Students and Campus Unrest

The first paragraph involves a dialogue between a senator and a representative from an organization that provides support for undocumented young people for college and career success, including scholarships. The senator questions whether any of the students who received scholarships are part of encampments on college campuses, which the representative denies. The senator then cites a report from NBC News about an undocumented immigrant student participating in an encampment and discusses the broader issue of students in encampments displaying anti-Semitic sentiments and inciting violence. The senator argues for the deportation of undocumented students who are unlawfully in the country and engaging in such activities.

05:00

🏛️ Calls for Deportation and Visa Cancellation

The second paragraph continues the discussion on the actions of undocumented students involved in campus unrest, with a focus on those who are inciting violence and violating laws. The senator emphasizes the need to send a clear moral message that such behavior will not be tolerated in the United States. They propose canceling student visas for those involved and advocate for deportation if the individuals are found to be in the country unlawfully. The senator calls for a unified moral stance against violence and illegal activities on campus, urging the panel to agree on the necessity of such measures.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Undocumented Students

Undocumented students refer to individuals who are not legally documented in the country they are residing in, often seeking education and opportunities. In the script, the organization 'US' provides support and scholarships to these students, highlighting the challenges they face in pursuing higher education.

💡Scholarships

Scholarships are financial aid awards given to students to support their education, often based on academic merit, financial need, or other criteria. The script discusses the provision of college scholarships to undocumented students by the organization 'US', emphasizing the organization's role in facilitating educational success.

💡Encampments

Encampments, in this context, refer to temporary settlements or gatherings, often associated with protests or demonstrations. The script mentions encampments on college campuses, which are described as violations of both law and campus policy, indicating a conflict between the students' actions and the institution's rules.

💡Deportation

Deportation is the act of removing a person from a country, especially someone who is not a citizen and does not have the legal right to remain. The script raises the question of whether undocumented students involved in illegal activities should face deportation, reflecting on the legal and moral implications of their actions.

💡Threats of Violence

Threats of violence involve expressing an intention to inflict harm or injury on someone, which can be a criminal offense. The script describes instances where students in encampments have made threats, including calls for the death of Jewish students, which are seen as incitements to violence and a breach of peace on campus.

💡Student Visas

Student visas are official documents allowing foreign nationals to study in a country where they are not citizens. The script suggests that those who engage in illegal activities while on a student visa should have their visas canceled, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the terms of the visa and the laws of the host country.

💡Moral Message

A moral message refers to a principle or belief that is conveyed with the intent to guide behavior or decisions based on ethical standards. The script calls for a moral message to be sent about the unacceptable nature of violence and illegal activities, particularly when committed by those who are in the country unlawfully or on a student visa.

💡Jewish Students

Jewish students, as mentioned in the script, are individuals of the Jewish faith who are attending educational institutions. The script discusses incidents where Jewish students have been specifically targeted with threats and harassment, highlighting concerns about religious intolerance and safety on campus.

💡Pro-Palestinian

Pro-Palestinian refers to individuals or groups who support the political aspirations and rights of the Palestinian people. In the script, it is mentioned in relation to campus organizers forming subgroups and engaging in activities that are seen as controversial and potentially in violation of campus policies.

💡Settler State

The term 'settler state' is used to describe a country that was founded or expanded through the colonization and displacement of indigenous peoples by settlers. In the script, it is used in a slogan to criticize the state of Israel, reflecting the ongoing conflict and differing perspectives on the Israeli-Palestinian issue.

💡Guillotine

A guillotine is historically a device used for beheading, but in a modern context, it can symbolize extreme measures or actions against perceived enemies. The script refers to calls for a 'people's tribunal' and the use of a guillotine as a form of punishment, indicating a severe form of retribution being advocated by some students.

Highlights

The organization at the Dream.US provides support for undocumented young people for college and career success, including scholarships.

None of the students who received scholarships from the organization are currently part of the illegal encampments on college campuses.

The organization does not know if any of the students they provided scholarships to have physically threatened Jewish students on campus.

A Columbia University undergraduate, who is an undocumented immigrant, said she spent hours a day in an illegal encampment before university officials threatened to suspend students.

At George Washington University, students in an encampment projected images of the US flag being burned with pro-Palestinian messages.

The encampment at GWU also called for the beheading of individuals who support Israel, including putting their own Board of Trustees on trial.

Columbia University students yelled at Jewish students, threatening violence and making reference to a specific date.

The Senator questions whether undocumented students who are violating the law and inciting persecution should be deported.

The Senator also calls for canceling student visas of those involved in such activities, sending a clear message.

The panel is silent on the question of deporting these students.

The Senator emphasizes the need to send a moral message that the US will not stand for violence and persecution against Jewish students.

The Senator praises the character of the country and the importance of upholding its values in this situation.

The Senator urges the panel to speak with one moral voice on this issue.

The Dream.US organization expects a lot from its scholars, who love and respect the country and want to enrich it.

The Senator expresses hope that none of the students sponsored by the organization are part of the illegal activities.

The Senator questions if anyone on the panel disagrees with deporting students who are unlawfully present and engaging in violence.

The Senator finds it indefensible to allow such students to remain in the country.

Transcripts

00:00

thank you Senator Senator Holly thank

00:02

you very much Mr chairman thanks to all

00:04

of the witnesses for being here U Mr PCO

00:06

if I could just start with you your

00:09

organization at the dream. US you

00:12

provide support for undocumented uh

00:16

young people for College and Career

00:18

Success is that broadly right am I

00:20

getting it right that's correct and and

00:21

among the things you do is you provide

00:23

scholarships to these undocumented

00:25

students have I got that correct that's

00:27

right and so college scholarships just

00:29

to be clear correct okay gotcha can you

00:31

can you tell me maybe you know the

00:33

answer to this maybe you don't any of

00:35

the students do you know if any of the

00:37

students to whom your organization has

00:40

provided a college scholarship are

00:42

currently part of the encampments on any

00:44

of these college campuses like the

00:47

picture you see behind me I'm sure we've

00:49

all seen these videos no Senator um no

00:52

none of no nobody who to whom you

00:54

provide scholarships are are part of the

00:56

encampments I do not know you don't know

00:58

um what about do do you know if if any

01:00

of the students who to whom you provided

01:02

scholarships have threatened physically

01:05

threatened Jewish students on on campus

01:07

I do not know here's why I'm asking NBC

01:11

News just reported and I'm just going to

01:12

quote now from the article quote a

01:15

Colombia that's is Columbia University a

01:17

Colombia undergraduate Who provided only

01:19

her initials because she is an

01:21

undocumented immigrant and fears

01:23

deportation said last week she spent

01:25

hours a day in the encampment this would

01:27

be the illegal encampment that's

01:30

violation of the law as well as student

01:31

as well as campus policy spent hours a

01:34

day in the encampment I'm quoting still

01:35

now before University officials

01:37

threatened to suspend those students the

01:39

article goes on she joined this uh uh

01:41

this student joined a supplies platoon

01:44

that's a subgroup formed by Pro

01:46

Palestinian campus organizers in quote

01:50

uh let me just review some of the things

01:52

that these

01:53

students these in the encampments that

01:56

is are saying of course we often don't

01:58

know who these students are they're

01:59

conce their identities this is I'm going

02:01

to read to you now and I just warn folks

02:04

this is not pleasant stuff but but these

02:05

are the facts and we have to tell the

02:07

truth this is just from last night at

02:09

George Washington University that's here

02:11

in this town uh they projected these the

02:14

students in the encampment there

02:15

projected onto various buildings images

02:18

of the United States flag being burned

02:20

with the with the graphics Gaza lights

02:23

the spark that will set the Empire

02:25

Ablaze they projected the following long

02:28

live the student inata

02:30

down with the settler state that would

02:32

be the state of Israel I suppose glory

02:34

to the martyrs of Palestine it's a

02:36

jihadist slogan stained with the blood

02:39

of 44,000 Palestinians that's last night

02:43

at GW also at GW they're now calling for

02:47

beheading this student encampment

02:50

beheading

02:52

beheading of individuals who support the

02:55

state of Israel including holding a

02:57

people's tribunal where they're putting

02:59

on trial quote unquote various members

03:02

of their own Board of Trustees and

03:03

calling for a guillotine here's Columbia

03:06

University students on April the 20th

03:08

2024 this is all public record I'm

03:10

reading this now this is on uh I guess

03:12

it's X Columbia University students

03:15

yelling at Jewish students and I quote

03:18

never forget October 7th it will not

03:21

happen I'm sorry it will happen not one

03:23

more time not five more times not 10 not

03:28

100 not 1,000 but 10,000 times the 7th

03:32

of October is going to be every day for

03:37

you the 7th of October this is to Jewish

03:40

students is going to be every day for

03:44

you end

03:47

quote I guess my question is M peo and

03:50

for anybody else on the panel too

03:53

shouldn't we be deporting these students

03:56

if we have undocumented students who are

03:59

here unlaw in the country who are

04:01

violating the law let's just be clear

04:02

here now this is a violation of the law

04:05

and if they're also deliberately

04:07

inciting persecution of a person on

04:10

account of their race which surely

04:12

calling for the murder of Jews does

04:16

that shouldn't we be deporting them does

04:19

anybody think we shouldn't be shouldn't

04:22

we be deporting these students who are

04:23

here unlawfully Mr peo Senator we expect

04:27

a lot from our Scholars and the scholars

04:29

and the the students that I know love

04:31

this country respect this country and

04:34

want to and and enrich not only the

04:37

campuses but also this country that's

04:39

fantastic and I hope and and bet that

04:41

none of the people that that you sponsor

04:43

are are part of this uh and I certainly

04:45

hope that's the case but I I just

04:48

wondered is there anybody in the panel

04:49

who thinks that we should not

04:51

Deport students who are here on lawfully

04:54

who are engaging in in this activity who

04:55

are calling for the death of Jewish

04:57

students who are violating laws of the

05:00

United States I mean should shouldn't we

05:02

be deporting these people does anybody

05:04

want to defend it and say no we

05:06

shouldn't they should absolutely be

05:09

here I think it's

05:10

indefensible I the record reflects

05:13

there's total Silence from the panel you

05:14

know I also think we ought to cancel the

05:15

student visas and I've called for this

05:17

for those who are here from other

05:18

countries with a Visa I think if they're

05:21

part of this we ought to be canceling

05:24

their visas and we ought to send a clear

05:26

message actually miss Peko I think it

05:27

was you in your opening statement put it

05:29

really beautiful beautifully about how

05:31

how part of what we're talking here

05:32

today represents the character of the

05:34

country I think that's I think that's

05:35

very appropriate and we need to send a

05:38

message about this

05:40

activity not just about the trespassing

05:43

and the destruction of buildings that's

05:44

bad that's unlawful but the threats of

05:47

violence and in some cases the outright

05:49

acts of violence against Jewish students

05:51

we should send a moral message that if

05:53

you do that and you are here unlawfully

05:55

you should be deported if you were here

05:57

on a student visa you ought to have your

05:58

Visa canceled this is the United States

06:00

of

06:01

America and we are not going to stand

06:04

for it and I would just hope we could

06:05

speak with one moral voice on this issue

06:08

thank you Mr

06:09

chairman Senator White

06:11

House thank you chairman um