The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announce that it will evaluate the social media accounts of foreign applicants and may reject visa or residency applications from individuals whose posts are classified as anti-Semitic by the current US Administration.
According to USCIS, US immigration officials may now deny applications for student visas or green cards based on social media content perceived as endorsing “anti-Semitic terrorism.”
USCIS specified that posts deemed anti-Semitic will encompass social media interactions that show support for militant groups recognized as terrorist organizations by the US, including Hamas, Hezbollah from Lebanon, and the Houthi movement from Yemen.
The agency has stated that it will view social media content suggesting an individual endorses, promotes, or supports anti-Semitic terrorism, terrorist organizations, or any other anti-Semitic activities as a detrimental factor in assessing immigration benefits.
Tricia McLaughlin, the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), emphasized that the United States has no obligation to accept “the rest of the world’s terrorist sympathizers.” She asserted that the country is not requited to admit or allow them to stay.
McLaughlin added that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has made it clear that those who think they can enter the United States and use the First Amendment— which protects free speech— to justify promoting anti-Semitic violence or terrorism are mistaken. “Think again. You are not welcome here,” she stated.
New policy is effective immediately and applies to both student visa applications and requests for permanent resident “green cards” to reside in the United States.
In 2024, Donald Trump ran his presidential campaign on the commitment to strengthen immigration policies and to overturn what he perceived as the lenient stance of his predecessor, Joe Biden, regarding immigration.
Since assuming office in January, Trump has broadened the expedited removal process for undocumented immigrants and has withheld federal funding from sanctuary cities. He has also declared a national emergency, which permits the use of military forces to secure the border. Additionally, his administration is increasing the capacity of detention facilities to accommodate up to 30,000 migrants.
The Trump Administration has specifically targeted foreign students involved in anti-Israel demonstrations at US college campuses as part of its extensive deportation strategy, sending immigration agents to apprehend them.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced late last month that he had revoked the visas of approximately 300 international students and continues to do so on a daily basis.
The recent enforcement action comes in response to a surge of pro-Palestinian demonstrations that took place last year at various universities throughout the United States. During these protests, students called for an end to the U.S. government’s support for Israel in light of its ongoing anti-terrorist operation against Hamas terror group in Gaza.
Additionally, the US administration has reduced federal funding by millions of dollars to prominent educational institutions such as Harvard and Columbia, citing their insufficient response to anti-Semitism during the campus protests related to the Gaza conflict.