US: Pro-Palestinian students targeted with AI to revoke visas
Civil rights groups have raised concerns over reports that the Trump administration is planning to use AI to identify and deport university protestors, The Independent reported on March 9th.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is launching an AI-fueled “Catch and Revoke” effort to cancel the visas of foreign nationals, reported Axios.
The “Catch and Revoke” plan will see AI-assisted reviews of tens of thousands of student visa holders’ social media accounts. This marks a dramatic escalation in the US government’s policing of foreign nationals’ conduct and speech.
The CIA-backed analytics firm used for the project is Palantir, Middle East Eye reported. The firm is infamous for aiding Israel to facilitate its targeting of Palestinians, and for its advanced capabilities in its war on Gaza.
The cumulative effect of Trump’s executive orders is already having a chilling effect on student visa-holders. They’re starting to shy away from protests critical of Israel.
Abed Ayoub, head of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee highlighted that “this should concern all Americans. This is a First Amendment and freedom of speech issue and the administration will overplay its hand,” reported Axios.
The federal immigration authorities previously arrested a Palestinian activist, Mahmoud Khalil, who is a Columbia University Alumnus.
Middle East Eye, Axios, The Independent
