Bondi: Anti-Israel Protesters on Visas Threatening American Students Must Be Deported
Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC):
- Attorney General Pam Bondi called for the deportation of anti-Israel student protesters who have threatened American students while on visas in the United States.
- Bondi spoke alongside Republican Senator Ted Cruz and radio show host Ben Ferguson at a live podcast of the "Verdict with Ted Cruz" podcast.
Bondi’s Statements:
- "First of all, these students who are here on visas, who are threatening our American students, need to be kicked out of this country."
- "All of our students deserve to be safe."
- "When I was just a citizen, before I had this job… I’m watching these — but these aren’t peaceful protests. We all believe in peaceful protest."
- "The anti-Israel protests were anything but peaceful protests."
- "These are violent."
Background:
- In 2024, anti-Israel protests erupted on college campuses nationwide in response to the war in Israel.
- Protesters demanded that elite schools divest from Israel.
- Instances of antisemitism and Jewish students feeling unsafe on campus increased during these protests.
- Terrorist organization Hamas launched a war in Israel on October 7, 2023, which sparked an increase in anti-Israel sentiment and protests.
Bondi’s Concerns about the Department of Justice:
- Bondi expressed concern over the politicization and weaponization of the Department of Justice under former President Joe Biden.
- "The volume of how bad it was, and it still is. We’re working on it. It’s day by day by day, but we’ve got a team of great people. And on day one, I issued 14 executive orders. And number one is the weaponization ends. And it ends now. And that’s what we do."
Employee Response to Bondi’s Leadership:
- Bondi stated that many DOJ employees have expressed gratitude for her leadership, as they believe that the majority of employees want to fight crime.
- "The majority of the people are great people, who went to law school, became prosecutors, became law enforcement agents to fight crime."
Cruz and Ferguson’s Response:
- Cruz agreed with Bondi’s assessment, saying, "Amen."
Implications:
- The deportation of anti-Israel student protesters who have threatened American students could reduce tensions on college campuses.
- The ongoing efforts to address the weaponization and politicization of the Department of Justice are critical to restoring trust in the justice system.
- Bondi’s focus on fighting crime and her efforts to lead the DOJ in an effective manner are important steps towards improving public safety and upholding the rule of law.
