An executive order signed Wednesday by President Trump will crack down on antisemitism in the U.S., asking all heads of government agencies to come up with plans on ways to combat the rising tide of anti-Semitic incidents.

And it takes aim at college campuses, suggesting that foreign born students who take part in protests as, quote, Hamas sympathizers could see their visas canceled or be deported.

Meanwhile, New Jersey lawmakers are considering a bill to create an official state definition of anti-Semitism using language from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, which is then adopted by dozens of other states.

Proponents say it's the most clear way to fight anti-Semite attacks, while critics point out that the definition conflates criticism of Israel with antisemitism.

Ted Goldberg takes a look.

A bill that would have New Jersey adopt a formal definition of antisemitism seems almost certain to become law.

Last summer, the government committee in the state Senate passed a bill adopting a definition from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, or IHRA, and the assembly version has three sponsors and a whopping 56 co-sponsors.

What you see 74% of the legislature on something so important, we should recognize that it's a significant moment in time, and we need to be appreciative of that.

It's scary times, but having a thing like this that will put together in a room with Democrats and Republicans are united for one purpose to stand up at the core of hate.

This comes in the wake of a massive jump in anti-Semitic incidents recorded at the state level and nationwide.

You do not comprehend the depth and immediate threat that we as Jews feel.

For those treating this like any other bill.

It is not.

It is our existence.

I've heard this student make countless Jew jokes, stereotype Jews, and commit other microaggressions against the Jewish community.

While students have every right to free speech, and our definition does not target free speech.

Jewish students like myself have every right to go to campus and not face intimidation and hate.

The definition would have been helpful in demonstrating the honoring individuals responsible for antisemitic violence crosses the line directly from free speech, from free speech into hate speech.

Some of the lawmakers and advocates speaking in Trenton today are the children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors.

They say a formal definition is needed to differentiate what forms of speech are constitutionally protected and what is not.

Like all groups, Jews must be the ones who define their own experiences of oppression.

Jews alone must have the right to define how they experience antisemitism.

Anti-Semitic ism comes in many forms.

The perverse use of the word genocide to describe Israel's efforts to defend itself from the existential threats.

Most of the IRA definition is what you would normally consider anti-Semitic, like denying the Holocaust or saying Jews control the media.

Where the definition has seen controversy is certain.

Criticisms of Israel, like holding them to different standards than other democracies.

This has nothing to do with Jews.

This is about protecting Israel.

Ross Siegel opposes the definition and has been accused of being anti-Semitic, even though the Stockton professor is Jewish.

It would be harmful for Palestinians.

It will be harmful for Jews.

It will be harmful because it would.

It would signal that the state of New Jersey does not care about US constitutional law anymore.

It silences Palestinians, right?

Who, for example, will say that Israel is a racist state, right.

Which is a very legitimate critique against any other state in the world, including the United States.

One of President Trump's recent executive orders calls for U.S. policy to use all available and appropriate legal tools to prosecute, remove, or otherwise hold to account the perpetrators of unlawful anti-Semitic harassment and violence.

It's unclear if that means student protesters could be deported, but Siegel says that's not far off.

What we're seeing here is an assault on free speech.

What we're seeing is an assault on a basic freedom in the US.

We're seeing here in a certain academic freedom as well.

Meanwhile, the definition has been adopted in most U.S. states, and advocates say it's help Jewish people more than it's frozen free speech.

We need to catch up to these 37 other states the federal government, the State Department, Harvard and Ireland.

I'm frankly surprised by those, too.

But those those reinforce the point that new Jersey has some catching up to do.

This gives will really start the, to provide the tools that law enforcement needs.

And our communities need to combat hate when we clearly define antisemitism.

We are better equipped to document and address it.

A growing problem with no easy solution in new Jersey or anywhere else in Trenton.

I'm Ted Goldberg, NJ Spotlight News.