Tom Cotton Introduces Bill to Revoke Visas from Non-Citizens Convicted of Illegal Activity While Protesting

U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) introduced a bill on Wednesday which would remove temporary legal status from any non-citizens convicted of a crime related to protesting if they are present in the U.S. on short-term visas, like student, tourist, or work visas.

[RELATED: Anti-Israel Mob Torches American Flags in DC as Angus King, Chellie Pingree Boycott Historic Netanyahu Speech…]

“This morning my colleagues and I introduced a bill to deport any foreigner involved in violence and vandalism on federal property. The actions of the pro-Hamas lunatics at Union Station in DC are shameful, and anyone on a visa who took part should have it revoked immediately,” said Sen. Cotton on X.

The bill will apply to anyone convicted in a protest at a college campus or religious institution, any protest that involves the vandalism of a national monument, and any protest that obstructs a highway.

It would require that any non-citizen lose their visa and be deported to their country of origin within 60 days of receiving the conviction.

Cotton’s bill came in preparation for a speech delivered in Congress by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, which drew numerous protesters who vandalized monuments, poured maggots in his hotel, and burned the American flag before raising a Palestinian flag in its place.

In May, a similar but far less reasonable bill was proposed by Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), which would have sent U.S. citizens to Gaza, an active war zone, even if their crimes were completely unrelated to antisemitism or Israel, as long as they were committed on a college campus after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7.

[RELATED: GOP Pols Want to Send U.S. Citizens to Work in Gaza For Crimes Unrelated to Anti-Israel Protests…]

The newly proposed bill received co-sponsorships from Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Sen. Thomas Tillis (R-N.C.).