Mosab Abu Toha, a Palestinian poet from Gaza and visiting professor at Syracuse University, announced Friday that he is canceling his 16-stop U.S. college speaking tour, citing fear of deportation amid the Trump administration’s crackdown on radical foreign nationals in academia. The decision comes days after the ICE detention of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish PhD student at Tufts University allegedly tied to pro-Hamas activities, which sent shockwaves through left-wing academic circles.
Rising Concerns Within Academic Circles
Toha, once celebrated in elite literary and academic spaces, said he no longer feels safe traveling in the U.S., claiming that he doesn’t even feel comfortable leaving his home to pick up his child from school. He posted:
“Unfortunately I had to cancel all my upcoming events in the United States as I felt unsafe traveling, especially after watching students and university professors abducted on the street just in front of other people.”
His remarks come as pressure mounts from groups like Betar USA, which flagged Toha in a list of foreign nationals with alleged ties to Hamas, the U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) responsible for the October 7, 2023, mass slaughter of Israeli civilians.
Betar USA has called Toha a “poster child” for the Trump administration’s foreign visa overhaul, referencing his controversial public statements, which include:
- Referring to Hamas’s October 7 attack as “retaliation”
- Calling for boycotts of Israeli cultural institutions
- Urging his followers to “spit the blood of Gaza kids” at anyone who mentions Israeli hostages
Toha was detained by Israeli forces in late 2023 while fleeing Gaza—reportedly over suspected Hamas ties—but was later released following international media pressure. He was subsequently brought to the U.S. by Syracuse University under their “Scholars at Risk” program.
Visa Crackdown Escalates
The cancellation follows the dramatic ICE detention of Rumeysa Ozturk, captured in a viral video where plainclothes agents approach her on the street. The Trump administration has prioritized the removal of non-citizens who publicly express support for terrorist organizations or advocate violence under the guise of activism or academic freedom.
Toha’s visa, which he publicly acknowledged receiving via an American embassy in Jordan in 2024, is now reportedly under review. His appearance on Betar USA’s “deportation watch list” further places him at risk.
Broader Policy Context
This move fits into a broader immigration enforcement effort targeting foreign nationals using U.S. universities as platforms to promote extremist ideologies. President Trump’s revised executive orders on visa enforcement now permit revocation of visas for individuals found to be engaging in or supporting terrorist propaganda—even indirectly—under Title 8 of the U.S. Code.
The administration has pledged to prioritize national security over academic sanctuary, especially in cases involving alleged Hamas sympathizers.
Conclusion
Mosab Abu Toha’s self-cancellation of his U.S. speaking tour is a consequential shift in how foreign nationals with controversial political views are treated in post-October 7 America. While critics label the crackdown as an attack on free speech, supporters argue that taxpayer-funded institutions should not harbor individuals tied to or defending terror groups like Hamas.
As the Trump administration continues to enforce its zero-tolerance policy on pro-terror rhetoric within U.S. borders, more foreign nationals in academia could face scrutiny, removal, or voluntary departure.
