DHS announces screening of visa applicants for ‘antisemitic activity’ online

• The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) directed U.S. Citizenship and Service to consider “antisemitic activity” online when screening visa applicants. The move comes after a similar order was issued by the U.S. State Department in March 2025.
• The announcement also comes as a Columbia student is facing deportation from the Trump administration, which accuses him of playing a role in pro-Palestinian protests and supporting Hamas through his participation.
• DHS argues the move is to deny admission to what it deems “terrorist sympathizers.”

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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Wednesday, April 9, it is examining visa applicants social media for “antisemitic activity” in a bid to deny the entry of what it calls “terrorist sympathizers.”

What is DHS saying?

“There is no room in the United States for the rest of the world’s terrorist sympathizers, and we are under no obligation to admit them or let them stay here,” Assistant Homeland Security Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin added, “[DHS Secretary Kristi] Noem has made it clear anyone who thinks they can come to America and hide behind the First Amendment to advocate for antisemitic violence and terrorism– think again. You are not welcome here.”

What does the directive do?

The move from DHS reportedly allows for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) to consider antisemitic activity when looking over applications for people seeking lawful permanent status in the United States as well as foreign students and individuals coming to the U.S. on behalf of educational institutions connected to antisemitic activities.

According to a release from USCIS, the agency is considering “social media content that indicates an alien endorsing, espousing, promoting, or supporting antisemitic terrorism, antisemitic terrorist organizations, or other antisemitic activity as a negative factor in any USCIS discretionary analysis when adjudicating immigration benefit requests.”

A similar directive was given by the U.S. State Department in March 2025, according to ABC News.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in late March that the visas of at least 300 students had already been revoked.

How does it play into the bigger picture?

The latest announcement comes as Trump administration seeks to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student at Columbia University. The administration accused him of involvement in pro-Palestinian protests.

The administration argued Khalil can be deported under a federal law’s provision that said the U.S. secretary of state has the authority to deport noncitizens who are thought to present “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences to the United States.”

The administration claims Khalil’s alleged role in the protests is akin to support for Hamas, which the U.S. designated as a terrorist organization.

Free speech advocates, however, contend that the effort potentially violates the First Amendment rights of migrants as well as any individuals critical of Israel’s war in Gaza.