WASHINGTON - Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) co-signed a letter offered by Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) to demand that U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigate possible cases of visa fraud committed by colleges and universities when they fail to enforce rules unilaterally to protect foreign national students.

The letter has received support from forty additional members of the House Republican Conference and comes as foreign national students have been identified as perpetrators of the illegal activity occurring on our nation's campuses. Congressman Donalds released the following statement:

"Universities have failed to apply consequences to foreign students who are in the United States on limited educational visas. I stand with Rep. Beth Van Duyne in demanding that U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigate any possible cases of visa fraud regarding those involved in recent illegal activity on America's campuses. If you are not a U.S. citizen and you commit crimes in this country, your visa should be revoked."


Read the full text of the letter HERE or below:


Troy A. Miller
Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20229

Dear Mr. Miller,

I write today to demand U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) investigate any possible cases of visa fraud perpetuated by college and university administrators as it pertains to the demonstrations and unrest that have taken place in response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

Since the horrific attacks and subsequent violence carried out by Hamas and Iran-backed proxy groups against the State of Israel on October 7, 2023, there has been a dramatic uptick in antisemitic protests, rallies, and demonstrations expressing support for Israel’s enemies and, at times, explicitly calling for violence against Jewish and Israeli Americans. Demonstration activity on college campuses specifically has spiked in the last several weeks, particularly at wellestablished universities such as Columbia University. In many instances, Jewish activities and spaces, such as Cornell University’s Jewish center, have been directly targeted by demonstrators. The concern over additional violence by the protestors has had consequences ranging from canceled and remote-only classes to canceled graduation ceremonies, leaving innocent bystanders forced to bear the brunt of the consequences.

Of particular concern is the unwillingness and at times outright refusal of university officials to enforce school codes of conduct. There have been reports of failures by university administrators to apply consequences for violation of codes of conduct, such as suspension, to foreign students who are in the U.S. on limited educational visas explicitly due to the potential legal ramifications, such as confiscation of lawful status and/or deportation. Failure to apply consequences to visa holders directly impacts these students’ eligibility to remain in the U.S. lawfully and doing so for that purpose would constitute visa fraud. The federal government has a responsibility to ensure visa-holding immigrants are adhering to the same laws and codes of conduct to which American citizens are also bound.

I therefore demand CBP launch an investigation into Columbia University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University at Texas at Austin, as well as any other colleges or universities where mass demonstration activity is taking place to determine whether and to what degree university officials are committing visa fraud through their concealment of information, noncooperation with law enforcement, and refusal to enforce codes of conduct.

cc: Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, U.S. Department of Homeland Security