WASHINGTON, D.C.: Former U.S. President Donald Trump says he wants to cut federal funding for colleges that allow what he calls "illegal protests."

In a social media post, he also said that protest organizers would be jailed or deported if they were not U.S. citizens, and American students could be expelled or arrested.

Trump's post repeated ideas from executive orders he issued in 2019 and again on January 29. His recent order instructed the Department of Education to investigate colleges that receive federal funds if they fail to protect Jewish students from antisemitism.

Civil rights groups criticized Trump's statement, calling it a threat to free speech. The nonprofit group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression said the plan would make students afraid to speak out on political issues. Legal experts also noted that the U.S. Constitution protects free speech and assembly, and the president cannot force colleges to expel students.

Trump has also asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to deport international students who take part in protests.

Protests over the Gaza conflict spread across U.S. college campuses last year, with students demanding that their schools cut ties with companies supporting Israel. Some of these protests, as well as counter-protests in support of Israel, led to allegations of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Arab bias. Protest leaders, including some Jewish students, say they oppose Israel's policies but reject claims that their movement is antisemitic.