New US Policy to check applicants’ social media before granting visas, green cards

In a recent move tightening immigration controls and cracking down on pro-Palestinian activism, US immigration authorities announced that individuals who share anti-Semitic content on social media will be barred from obtaining visas and residence permits.

Officials stated that under the administration of President Donald Trump, social media activity will now be scrutinised as part of the visa and green card vetting process.

Content deemed anti-Semitic, including posts expressing support for groups the US has designated as terrorist organisations, such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, will be grounds for denial.

This policy follows a wave of student visa revocations in the US, raising concerns about free speech restrictions despite the First Amendment protections.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristin Noam made the administration’s stance clear: “Anyone who thinks they can enter the United States and hide behind the First Amendment to incite anti-Semitic violence or support terrorism, think again. You are not welcome here,” said DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin.

Read: Trump administration abruptly cancels visas of 400 international students including Pakistanis

The DHS further stated that the US Citizenship and Immigration Services will treat any online expression of support for anti-Semitic violence, terrorist groups, or related activities as a “negative factor” when assessing visa or residency applications.

The policy took immediate effect and includes student and permanent residency permits.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio also revealed that around 300 visas had already been revoked in recent weeks, with more revocations occurring daily.

However, the current wave of revocations, which also affects legal residency, leaves students vulnerable to legal action if they do not voluntarily leave the country as soon as possible.

Check: Trump administration’s crackdown forces Columbia University to expel pro-Palestinian students

US media outlets report that multiple factors may be behind the visa cancellations. However, university officials and immigration rights advocates suggest that the US government is executing the process quietly, with little transparency.

The crackdown appears to be targeting students who have expressed solidarity with Palestine.

Educational institutions and human rights organisations have expressed grave concern over the developments. Universities are actively providing legal support to affected students, while student communities remain anxious about the widening crackdown.

In one of the most high-profile cases, Mahmoud Khalil, a US green card holder who led a pro-Palestinian protest on his campus, was arrested. A Turkish student also faced arrest simply for publishing a pro-Palestinian article in a campus magazine.