The United States immigration authorities announced on Wednesday that they will begin reviewing social media accounts as part of the visa and green card application process, denying entry or residency to individuals found to post content deemed anti-Semitic by the Trump administration.
Posts identified as anti-Semitic include content that supports groups classified by the US as terrorist organizations, such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis of Yemen.
This policy comes after the Trump administration controversially revoked visas for students already in the US, despite the First Amendment of the Constitution guaranteeing freedom of speech.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized that the government would not tolerate individuals using the First Amendment to advocate for anti-Semitic violence or terrorism. “Anyone who thinks they can come to America and hide behind the First Amendment to advocate for anti-Semitic violence and terrorism — think again. You are not welcome here,” said department spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will now consider social media content that promotes or supports anti-Semitic terrorism, terrorist organizations, or related activities as a negative factor in determining eligibility for visas and permanent resident status.
The new policy takes effect immediately and will apply to student visa applications and requests for permanent residency (green cards).
Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed last month that he had revoked visas for around 300 individuals, with more being revoked daily. Rubio emphasized that non-US citizens do not have the same rights as Americans, and the decision to issue or deny visas lies with him, not judges.
Some individuals whose visas were revoked argue that they never expressed anti-Semitic views and were instead caught up in protests. One prominent case is that of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student who led protests in New York. Despite being a permanent US resident, Khalil was detained in Louisiana for deportation proceedings.
In addition, the Trump administration has withheld millions of dollars in federal funding from universities, accusing them of failing to address anti-Semitism effectively during protests related to the Gaza conflict.
