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DHS Employee Voices Pro-Hamas Views on Social Media

Susan Quinn
@SusanQuinn
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How far can an employee of the government go in writing attacks on Israel and Jews or supporting Hamas and the Palestinians?

In a Senate hearing, DHS Secretary Majorkas was called out by Senator Josh Hawley about one of his DHS employees:

After asking about the prospect of revoking visas from foreign students calling for the destruction of Israel and Jewish people, Hawley read one such social media post and asked for Mayorkas’ opinion on the rhetoric. ‘What about people who say things like, on October the seventh, ‘F Israel’ — I’m cleaning up the language here — ‘F Israel, the government and its military, are you ready for your downfall?’ People who say things like, ‘F Israel and any Jew who supports Israel. May your conscience haunt your dreams until your last breath. Palestine will be free one day. F apartheid Israel,’ This is pretty extreme rhetoric, don’t you think?’

Hawley stated that the employee made other pro-Hamas comments, identifying the employee as an asylum and immigration officer. He wondered if her beliefs could influence the decisions she would make in her role.

This situation raises so many questions about government power and free speech—

  • Does the government have the right to judge the beliefs of an employee?
  • Is the government permitted to penalize an employee, including firing, who states anti-Israel, anti-Semitic, and pro-Hamas statements on social media?
  • Does the job of the employee and its relationship to the stated beliefs make a difference in punishing the employee?

What if a person voiced anti-Hamas or pro-Israel comments?

Do you side with Senator Hawley?

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Discussion (82)

  • Raxxalan@Raxxalan
    Susan Quinn (View Post):

    This situation raises so many questions about government power and free speech—

    • Does the government have the right to judge the beliefs of an employee?

    Except for religious beliefs yes.

    Susan Quinn (View Post):
    • Is the government permitted to penalize an employee, including firing, who states anti-Israel, anti-Semitic and pro-Hamas statements on social media?

    It depends on how far they go; however, I am in general going to say yes.

    Susan Quinn (View Post):
    • Does the job of the employee and its relationship to the stated beliefs make a difference in punishing the employee?

    Yes, however it depends on the particular belief some beliefs are completely out of bounds and should be disqualifying for any job in the government.

    In this particular case no one who supports a designated terrorist organization should work for DHS. It undermines the already shaky faith the public has or should have in that institution. Anyone that posts something that indicates they probably can't overcome their biases about religious or ethnic groups probably shouldn't be working for the government.

    Susan Quinn (View Post):

    What if a person voiced anti-Hamas or pro-Israel comments?

    More acceptable. Israel is a geostrategic ally of the US and Hamas is a designated terrorist group; however, Let's say for the sake of argument someone made an anti-Iranian pro-Israel comment. That might depend if the anti-Iranian comment indicated an inability to be able to accept Muslims or Persians in general then they might need to be similarly sanctioned.

  • Rodin@Rodin
    So much to unwrap. First, Hamas has been designated by the government as a terrorist organization. So expressions of support for Hamas by a government employee likely violates some government personnel rule even though one retains one’s free speech subject to limits on workplace expression and government resources. Second, if the employee has a security clearance, one would suppose even a private expression of support for a terrorist organization would pique the curiosity of security personnel.
  • Susan Quinn@SusanQuinn
    ReplyingtoRodin

    Rodin (View Comment):

    So much to unwrap. First, Hamas has been designated by the government as a terrorist organization. So expressions of support for Hamas by a government employee likely violates some government personnel rule even though one retains one’s free speech subject to limits on workplace expression and government resources. Second, if the employee has a security clearance, one would suppose even a private expression of support for a terrorist organization would peak the curiosity of security personnel.

    Now this is helpful--remembering that they are, in fact, a terrorist organization! I can't help but wonder if there'd be a difference if a person worked for, say, Dept. of Education and was a secretary.

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