Trump, citing Hamas attacks, vows sweeping immigration crackdown if elected

Former President Donald Trump said Monday that if elected again to the White House, he would reinstate and expand a travel ban on people from predominantly Muslim countries, suspend refugee resettlements and aggressively deport those whom he characterized as having "jihadist sympathies."

During a campaign event in Clive, Iowa, Trump pointed to the deadly attacks by Hamas in Israel and raised fears about a potential assault on the US as he sought to make the case for his hard-line immigration policies. His proposals would amount to a sweeping overhaul of America's immigration system and would almost certainly face legal challenges if implemented.

During his presidency, Trump's travel ban was a signature policy that limited travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries: Iran, Libya, Iraq, Sudan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen. The administration later extended the travel ban to include several African countries. President Joe Biden revoked the travel ban after he took office in 2021.

Trump said that he would implement "strong ideological screening of all immigrants to the United States" and said the US would block "dangerous lunatics, haters, bigots and maniacs to get residency in our country."

He also said he would ban travel from Gaza, Syria, Somalia, Yemen, Libya" or anywhere else that threatens our security."

The former president said he would revoke student visas of "radical anti-American and antisemitic foreigners" enrolled in US colleges and universities and deport them. Trump criticized pro-Palestinian protests and said he would send Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to what he described as "pro-jihadist demonstrations."

"We have to protect our own country," Trump said.