The UPRISERS Act would tighten consequences for nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors who are convicted of assaulting a police officer or involvement in rioting. Specifically, it requires the Secretary of State to revoke the visas of aliens admitted under F, J, or M visas who have such convictions, and it adds a new deportation ground for these same offenses under current immigration law. The bill’s short title, “UProot Rioting International Students Engaged in Radical Subversion Act” (UPRISERS Act), frames the measure as a way to address violence and rioting by international students and exchange visitors. In practical terms, if enacted, this would mean: (1) a nonimmigrant student or exchange visitor who is convicted of assaulting a police officer or a riot-related offense could lose their U.S. visa, and (2) they could also be deemed deportable under existing immigration law. The provisions apply to those admitted under F, J, or M visa categories and cover a broad set of riot-related acts, including incitement, organizing or promoting a riot, taking part in violence in support of a riot, and aiding others in those activities.
Key Points
- 1The Secretary of State must revoke the visa of any alien admitted under F, J, or M who has been convicted of assaulting a police officer or any offense related to rioting (including incitement, organizing, promoting, participating in, or carrying on a riot; violence in furtherance of a riot; or aiding/abetting such acts).
- 2The bill adds a deportability provision: such individuals are deportable under INA section 237(a)(2)(G), expanding current grounds to remove nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors convicted of these offenses.
- 3The short title of the bill is the UPRISERS Act, standing for the “UProot Rioting International Students Engaged in Radical Subversion Act.”
- 4The offenses covered include a broad range of riot-related activities, not just direct assault, extending to incitement, organizing, promoting, encouraging, and aiding rioting or violence.