USCIS to Screen Social Media of Applicants for Permanent Residency or Other Non-Immigrant Present in the USA
The chilling of free speech under the Trump Administration has just gotten more severe. USCIS will now comb the social media accounts of immigrants lawfully present in the United States as non-immigrants (students are named, and others included are H-1B workers, O-1 extraordinary ability workers, P-1 athletes, E-2 investors, E-3 Australian professional workers to name a few) and if in their judgment the person espouses “anti semitic” sentiment, a status can be cancelled or a green card application can be denied as a matter of discretion.
This is dangerous territory and a fundamental assault on the right to free speech in this country. Think about how chilling that may be. Simply pointing out the loss of life in Gaza can be chalked up to “anti-semetism” and result in status and visa cancellations, denied green cards or worse: detention and summary deportation.
As Americans, it pains us to advise immigrants to refrain from speaking in a way that could be interpreted as anti-semitic by this Administration. We never thought we’d see the day where we had to advise people to be quiet in America, but here we are.
Now more than ever, representation is necessary before USCIS for immigration benefits applications. Call today for your consultation!
USCIS Official Statement
WASHINGTON— Today U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin considering aliens’ antisemitic activity on social media and the physical harassment of Jewish individuals as grounds for denying immigration benefit requests. This will immediately affect aliens applying for lawful permanent resident status, foreign students and aliens affiliated with educational institutions linked to antisemitic activity.
Consistent with President Trump’s executive orders on Combatting Anti-Semitism, Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism and Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats, DHS will enforce all relevant immigration laws to the maximum degree, to protect the homeland from extremists and terrorist aliens, including those who support antisemitic terrorism, violent antisemitic ideologies and antisemitic terrorist organizations such as Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, or Ansar Allah aka: “the Houthis.”
“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,” said DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin. “Sec. Noem has made it clear that 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.”
Under this guidance, USCIS will consider 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. This guidance is effective immediately.
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