Originally Published in the Ripon Advance on March 25, 2025.

Two pieces of legislation brought forth by U.S. Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX) seeks to reinforce the rule of law by targeting the unlawful actions of international students and faculty who have visas and are enrolled or working at American universities. 

“It is a privilege for international students to have the opportunity to study in the United States, not a right,” said Rep. Pfluger. “Given the increase in hostility, protests, and even violent riots across college campuses over the past few years, I am proud to reintroduce two pieces of extremely critical legislation to codify President Trump’s action on this issue and restore the rule of law.” 

The congressman on March 21 sponsored the UProot Rioting International Students Engaged in Radical Subversion (UPRISERS) Act, H.R. 2273, and the Freeze Aid For Student Assaulters (FAFSA) Act of 2025, H.R. 2272.

If enacted, H.R. 2273 would direct the U.S. Secretary of State to revoke the visa of any alien admitted to the United States under section 101(a)(15)(F) of the Immigration and Nationality Act who has been convicted of assault on a police officer or an offense related to rioting. The bill has four GOP original cosponsors, including U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN).

“The UPRISERS Act will revoke the visas of any international students, faculty members, and other individuals in the U.S. on a visa who assault a police officer or participate in riots,” Rep. Pfluger said. “It will also make any international student guilty of these crimes eligible for deportation.”

Meanwhile, H.R. 2272, which Rep. Pfluger also sponsored on March 21 with one Republican cosponsor, would make certain individuals ineligible to receive any federal financial aid under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 if the individual has been convicted of a criminal offense.

Under the bill, such offenses would include assault against a police officer; inciting a riot, or organizing, promoting, encouraging, participating in, or carrying on a riot; committing any act of violence in furtherance of a riot; aiding or abetting any person in inciting or participating in or carrying on a riot or committing any act of violence in furtherance of a riot, according to the text of the bill.

“The FAFSA Act will strip federal student aid from those convicted of these violent acts,” said Rep. Pfluger. “These bills send a clear message: If you bring violence to the United States, you are not welcome here.”