The Trump administration is now requiring visa and green card applicants to have their social media accounts screened for signs of “anti-American activity.” The directive, announced on Tuesday by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), takes effect immediately, according to the news release.
What the new guidelines say
USCIS instructed officials to scrutinize applicants’ online activity for ties to “any involvement in anti-American or terrorist organizations.” Any evidence of so-called “anti-American activity” will weigh heavily against approval, the agency said.
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The term itself isn’t defined in the guidance. However, the agency pointed to a Cold War-era immigration law that barred immigrants from communist or anarchist groups from becoming U.S. citizens.
‘A privilege, not a right’
“America’s benefits should not be given to those who despise the country and promote anti-American ideologies. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is committed to implementing policies and procedures that root out anti-Americanism and supporting the enforcement of rigorous screening and vetting measures to the fullest extent possible,” USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser said in a statement.
“Immigration benefits – including to live and work in the United States – remain a privilege, not a right,” he said.
Concerns over vagueness
Critics warn that the undefined term could be applied inconsistently.
“The term anti-American is ill-defined and malleable,” Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, told The Wall Street Journal. “What one person may consider anti-American, another person might consider pro-American.”
In line with other directives
This policy follows USCIS’s April announcement that applicants would be screened for antisemitic content online. Tourist and student visa applicants must also disclose their social media handles and set their accounts to public for review.
Just last week, the administration tightened other immigration standards, requiring applicants to demonstrate “good moral character,” including steady employment, community contributions and no overdue taxes – as outlined by the Department of Homeland Security.
