Tories demand deportation of anti-Semitic foreign students

In a letter to Ms Phillipson, seen by The Telegraph, the Tories raised concerns over a “deeply troubling rise in anti-Semitic behaviour... particularly on university campuses”.

The party urged the Government to use existing powers under the Immigration Act 1971 to revoke the visas of any foreign citizens who harassed or intimidated members of the Jewish community.

Laura Trott, the shadow education secretary, and Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, also called for the deportation of foreign citizens, including students, who expressed anti-Semitism or voice their support for extremism or terrorism.

The Tories’ proposals echo the Trump administration’s visa crackdown on foreign students accused of anti-Semitism, which has placed the president on a war footing against many Ivy League colleges.

Reports of anti-Semitic abuse at British universities reached record levels last year in the wake of the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct 7 2023. Incidents included Jewish students being pelted with eggs after an event with the Chief Rabbi, and swastika graffiti at a National Union of Students conference.

The Community Security Trust (CST), a charity set up to protect British Jews from abuse and harassment, recorded a high of 272 incidents on campuses in 2023-24.

Writing to Ms Phillipson, as well as Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, the Tories said “vile racism has no place in our society, and we must act collectively to stamp it out”.

They wrote: “Too many institutions that have spent years suppressing legitimate free speech and debate in the name of ‘diversity and inclusion’ have decided to turn a blind eye to genuine harassment and intimidation when it is directed against Jewish people.

“Failure to act sends a dangerous message to Jewish students and academics that their safety is not valued, and to perpetrators that they can harass Jewish students and staff with impunity... We can, and must, do better. Enough is enough.”

The Tories’ calls for deportation are understood to come after Jewish leaders told them universities had become epicentres for anti-Semitism in the UK. Although the incitement of racial hatred by a student can trigger deportation procedures, this rarely happens.
A Palestinian student, Dana Abu Qamar, who led a Friends of Palestine society at Manchester University, was stripped of her student visa in December 2023 after remarks she made about the Israel-Hamas war but the decision was reversed on appeal on the basis of her human rights.

Jewish groups have backed more action to tackle anti-Semitic at universities.

Leo Brosh, of the Jewish Leadership Council, said: “The levels of anti-Semitic abuse on campus are unacceptable, and tackling this hatred will require a concerted, cross-government effort.”

Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: “The harrowing anti-Semitic experiences recounted by Jewish students demand a response.”

Ms Phillipson acknowledged in October that many Jewish students did not feel safe on campus following an “unacceptable increase in anti-Semitism” at UK universities.

She announced funding for training to help staff and students at universities to “tackle this poison of anti-Semitism”. But the Tories suggested ministers should consider stripping universities of their degree-awarding powers in extreme cases where vice-chancellors have failed to act.

The Conservatives also called for ministers to toughen the higher education watchdog’s powers, claiming some universities had “responded far too slowly to incidents”.

The Office for Students introduced new rules in August requiring universities to take action to prevent and address harassment, including racial abuse. It also wrote to UK universities last month outlining how they should respond to pro-Palestine protests.

It recommended moving protests away from synagogues, classrooms or accommodation hosting Jewish students, and for universities to refuse permission for speakers who have repeatedly stated their support for a proscribed organisation.

The Tories now want a time limit on universities to act, with financial penalties or have their powers to hand out degrees removed.

Mr Philp said: “We must do more than just call out extremism. That is why I am calling on the Government to ensure anyone expressing extremist views or racial or religious hatred of any kind, including anti-Semitism, who is not a British citizen is removed from this country. This includes foreign students and staff.”

Ms Trott, the shadow education secretary, said: “Universities must be safe spaces for Jewish students and staff – places of learning, not fear. It is appalling and utterly abhorrent that in 2025 we are still seeing Jewish students subjected to intimidation and hate.

“Yet while some institutions respond swiftly when incidents occur, others are shamefully dragging their feet. We need consistent, robust action across the sector to ensure anti-Semitism is stamped out immediately.”

A government spokesman said: “There is absolutely no place for anti-Semitism, hate speech or violence in our society, and it is essential that everyone regardless of race, religion, or background, feels safe.

“Decisions on whether to cancel a person’s permission to enter or stay are made on an individual basis, after careful consideration of all the relevant facts and circumstances of the case.”

“Universities have responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 to adopt robust policies and procedures to investigate and address reports of religious hatred, harassment and abuse on campus.