Republican Senators File Immigration Bill Barring Hamas Supporters from U.S. Entry
The proposed legislation targets visa applicants who publicly endorse designated terrorist organizations—following a surge in pro-Hamas advocacy on American soil since the Oct 7, 2023, terror attacks
A coalition of nine Republican senators introduced legislation on November 26, 2025, aimed at closing what they describe as dangerous loopholes in U.S. immigration law that currently allow supporters of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other designated terrorist organizations to enter the country.
The Terrorist Inadmissibility Codification Act, led by Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Ted Budd (R-NC), would expand existing restrictions to explicitly bar anyone who publicly endorses terrorist activities from obtaining visas or admission to the United States.
Legislative Details and Scope
The bill builds upon current provisions in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) that already prohibit officers, officials, representatives, or spokesmen of the Palestine Liberation Organization from receiving U.S. visas. The proposed expansion would extend these restrictions to include members and public endorsers of Hamas, Hezbollah, Al-Qaeda, ISIS, Palestine Islamic Jihad, and any successor or affiliate groups.
According to the senators, the legislation responds directly to what they characterize as an alarming increase in pro-Hamas rhetoric across the United States following the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks in Israel, particularly among international students and other foreign nationals present on visas.
Senator Cassidy framed the measure as addressing conduct beyond constitutional protections. “Freedom of speech does not protect terrorism and calls to terror,” he stated.
Current Enforcement Context
The bill arrives as the Trump administration has already taken executive action on this front, revoking visas of individuals who engaged in pro-Hamas advocacy and implementing stricter vetting procedures for visa applicants. The proposed legislation would codify these enforcement priorities into permanent statutory law, making them less vulnerable to changes in administrative policy across different presidencies.
The senators argue that existing immigration law contains ambiguous language that has allowed individuals who publicly support terrorist organizations to enter or remain in the United States. By explicitly naming specific terrorist groups and defining public endorsement as grounds for inadmissibility, the legislation aims to provide immigration officials with clearer authority to deny entry or revoke existing visas.
Implications for Visa Holders and Applicants
If enacted, the law would apply both to future visa applicants seeking entry to the United States and potentially to current visa holders already in the country whose endorsement of designated terrorist organizations could trigger visa revocation proceedings. The bill specifically targets public expressions of support, which could include social media posts, participation in demonstrations, or public statements endorsing terrorist activities.
I just wrote to my two U.S. Senators in Texas asking them to support S.3237 when its text is uploaded to Congress- "A bill to consider, for purposes of the Immigration and Nationality Act, that officers, officials, representatives, spokespersons, and members of Hamas, Palestine Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, Al-Qaeda, and ISIS, and individuals who endorse or espouse terrorist activities conducted by such organizations are engaged in terrorist activity."
Here's a link to the Congressional website for this bill. https://tinyurl.com/yn2a4vve
How is this even controversial?