Donald Trump has signed an executive order to “combat antisemitism” that asks agencies to explore ways to deport pro-Palestinian activists, including student protesters.

The US president’s order instructs federal agencies to identify available civil and criminal authorities in order to “combat antisemitism”, specifically by deporting resident aliens – such as students with visas – who were found to have broken the law during protests.

Department and agency leaders will be required to provide recommendations to the White House within 60 days. It also instructs the Department of Justice to investigate pro-Hamas graffiti and intimidation, including incidents on college campuses.

The order appears to target students and other activists who engaged in pro-Palestinian demonstrations following the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 and the subsequent Israeli war in Gaza.

Republicans have been threatening for months to punish colleges that allow pro-Palestinian protests. In October of last year, top Republicans warned that they would pull billions of dollars of federal funding from several of the most prestigious universities in the US, and strip them of official accreditation, to punish them for “allowing” the protests.

Last week, Trump proposed to “just clean out” the whole Gaza strip of Palestinians by moving them to other countries. His comments sparked immediate condemnation and accusations that he was essentially calling for ethnic cleansing.

During his campaign for president, Trump vowed to deport “pro-Hamas” students who are in the US on visas. On his first day in office, he signed an executive order that said: “The US must ensure that admitted aliens and aliens otherwise already present in the US do not bear hostile attitudes toward its citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles.”