A group of 37 Conservative Members of Parliament has written to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson calling for automatic deportation of overseas students found guilty of antisemitic harassment on UK campuses. The letter, dated 7 December, cites a surge in reported incidents since the 7 October Middle East crisis and argues that universities risk "importing hatred" under current visa rules.
While immigration enforcement is a Home Office remit, Tory MPs say ministers should make student-visa sponsorship conditional on good conduct and expand the list of “public good” grounds for visa cancellation. They also want universities to share disciplinary findings directly with UK Visas and Immigration so that revocation can occur "within days" of a proven offence.
![Conservative MPs Urge Deportation of Foreign Students Involved in Antisemitic Campus Incidents]()
University leaders warn that the proposal could breach due-process norms and deter legitimate international applicants—worth £41 billion a year to the economy—especially from the United States and India. The Russell Group has asked for urgent talks, stressing that institutions already have powers to suspend or expel students for hate crimes.
For global-mobility teams the episode signals further politicisation of student and graduate migration. Sponsors employing graduates on the post-study route may face abrupt visa curtailments if government adopts a conduct-based revocation model. Employers should review contractual clauses covering right-to-work loss and maintain close liaison with sponsored employees’ alma maters.
The Home Office has yet to comment, but insiders note that any change would require secondary legislation amending Part 9 of the Immigration Rules, which governs cancellation on grounds of conduct, character and associations.
While immigration enforcement is a Home Office remit, Tory MPs say ministers should make student-visa sponsorship conditional on good conduct and expand the list of “public good” grounds for visa cancellation. They also want universities to share disciplinary findings directly with UK Visas and Immigration so that revocation can occur "within days" of a proven offence.
University leaders warn that the proposal could breach due-process norms and deter legitimate international applicants—worth £41 billion a year to the economy—especially from the United States and India. The Russell Group has asked for urgent talks, stressing that institutions already have powers to suspend or expel students for hate crimes.
For global-mobility teams the episode signals further politicisation of student and graduate migration. Sponsors employing graduates on the post-study route may face abrupt visa curtailments if government adopts a conduct-based revocation model. Employers should review contractual clauses covering right-to-work loss and maintain close liaison with sponsored employees’ alma maters.
The Home Office has yet to comment, but insiders note that any change would require secondary legislation amending Part 9 of the Immigration Rules, which governs cancellation on grounds of conduct, character and associations.
