Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas seemed to suggest Wednesday that he could revoke the visas of any foreign visitors in the U.S. who can be shown to have endorsed or supported Hamas terrorists.

Mr. Mayorkas was questioned about the idea at a congressional hearing. Sen. Marco Rubio, who has been pushing the idea, said that U.S. law calls for denying admission to anyone who endorses or espouses terrorism. He said the same principle should apply to those already here on visitor’s visas.

“I think it makes sense that if you can’t get a visa because you espouse terrorist views or endorse terrorist views, then if you have a visa and you do that while a visitor, we’re talking about visitors to the United States, that visa should be canceled,” said Mr. Rubio, Florida Republican.

“I would agree,” Mr. Mayorkas said.

SEE ALSO: Senators reject Mayorkas’ demand for border money now, immigration policy changes later

Mr. Rubio moved on before the conversation deepened, but the senator’s office later highlighted the exchange, saying the secretary and the senator seem to be on the same page.

It was a decidedly different tone than Mr. Mayorkas took in a hearing the previous week when confronted by Sen. Josh Hawley. 

The Missouri Republican, like Mr. Rubio, has called for revocation of visas of foreign students who demonstrated in support of Hamas in the wake of the terrorist group’s Oct. 7 sneak attack on Israel. He asked Mr. Mayorkas whether he would flex that power, but the secretary would not commit to it.

“It is a matter of law, and it requires a legal interpretation, and I am not in a position to provide that legal interpretation,” the secretary said.

“I think your answer is disappointing,” Mr. Hawley responded.

• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.