Arkansas AG Tim Griffin is leading the effort after writing a letter that calls on the State Department and Homeland Security to, "Vigorously renew vetting of foreign student visa holders and promptly remove anyone who has endorsed or espoused terrorist activity or provided material support to foreign terrorist organizations."

"These are people that are here because we allow them to be here," said AG Griffin. "If they're going to engage in this sort of support of terrorists, then we need to get them out of here.

READ Pro-Palestinian Protestors Try to Storm Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Ceremony

Iowa's AG Brenna Bird also signed the letter.

"I would say most of them also don't support terrorism, most people who are here on a student visa are here to study and learn about American culture, but those that are supporting terrorism shouldn't be in our country," AG Bird said. "It's even more concerning when I hear students on campus say that they're scared, they don't feel safe because of what is going on there."

In 2022, the federal government issued more than 400,000 student visas, an increase of 53,000 (or 15%) over the prior year, and the highest recorded total seen in six years. One reason could be the money generated by the student visa program—which pumps about $38 million into the US economy via tuition, living expenses, and other spending.

MUST SEE 'Son of Hamas' Tackles University Antisemitism, Exposes Hamas 'Holy War' to Wipe Out Jews

Almost three-quarters of these F-1 student visa holders find jobs in the important fields of science, tech, engineering and math within three years of graduating. Some call that a huge return of investment as top international talent stays here.

These are the universities with the highest number of student visa holders and the dollars they bring with them: (Sources: IIE, NAFSA & the US Dept of Commerce)

1. University of Southern California (USC) - $664.3 million
2. New York University (NYU) - $575.6 million
3. Northeastern University - $522.2 million
4. Columbia University - $486.3 million
5. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) - $461.8 million

"The last thing we want is for Hamas and Hamas sympathizers to be using the US in order to plan future attacks," Bird concluded.

While free speech applies to all students in the US—including foreign visa holders—supporting terrorism does not. That's why the coalition is calling on the federal government to act. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

Brody Carter has been reporting and anchoring at CBN since 2021. In his time at CBN, he has found his stride in national news, including political and foreign affairs, extreme weather, and in-depth faith-based reporting. 

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

End of the War? Trump and Netanyahu Say Hamas Has Agreed to Release Hostages

8 Faith-Filled Films, TV Shows to Watch This Fall, from 'Soul On Fire' to 'House Of David'

'Big Shift': Men Now Surpass Women in Church Attendance, Especially among Gen X, Millennials, Says Barna

Victory: Arkansas Student Will Be Able to Share His Faith during Social Time

Church Vandalized in Brazen Attack for Hosting TPUSA Event

Judge Frees Armed Chicago Protesters Charged with Ramming Border Patrol Vehicle, Pending Trial

President Trump Hears from Independent Journalists' Accounts in Roundtable on Antifa Violence

Supreme Court Weighs Fate of Faith-Based Counseling in Blockbuster Case

'Peace in the Middle East': President Trump Announces Hostage Release Deal to End Gaza War, Plans Sunday Visit to Israel

Christian Artist Forrest Frank Says He Will No Longer Participate in Awards Shows, Shares 'Conviction' Behind Why

Dolly Parton's Sister Gives Update on Country Music Legend's Health: 'I Was Up All Night Praying'

Trump Approves Alaska's Ambler Road Project That Unlocks Access to Critical Minerals

Thanks Chuck! Schumer Shutdown Allows Republicans to Confirm 107 Trump Nominees

Amid Schumer's Shutdown, President Trump Gets 'Creative' in Keeping the Women, Infant and Children's Nutritional Program Going

Chicago Bans ICE from Public Areas after Withholding Police Backup from Battered ICE Agents

Governor Youngkin Signs Executive Order to Keep Males Out of Female Spaces in Virginia

Seattle Public Schools Caught Pushing Free Chest Binders, Tucking Underwear to Kids

5 Key Signs to Spot a Human Trafficking Victim

CDC's Major Change on COVID-19 Vax; Lets Individuals Decide, and Makes Chickenpox Vaccine Standalone

COVER-UP EXPOSED: Declassified Docs Reveal Then-VP Biden Suppressed Report on Family's Foreign Entanglements