Statewide, Iowa (RI) – A subcommittee in the Iowa House has advanced a bill called the “Combating Terrorist Sympathizers Act.” It calls for suspending, expelling or firing students and employees at Iowa colleges and universities who are here on a student or work visa and express support for terrorist activities or a terrorist organization.
They’d likely have to leave the country. Representative John Wills, a Republican from Spirit Lake, says it’s a response to campus protests against Israel.
Representative Jeff Shipley, a Republican from Birmingham, says he supports the direction of the bill, but he has questions about how the policy would be applied in real life.
Representative Ross Wilburn, a Democrat from Ames, opposes the bill.
As written, the bill calls for the sanctions to apply for espousing terrorism any time, anywhere — meaning a visa holder could be expelled or fired from an Iowa college or university for actions or statements made in another state or another country.
Last month, President Trump said he would cancel visas and deport foreign students who are Hamas sympathizers.
