Jobaaj Stories
New USCIS Policy Expands Immigration Screening to Online Activity
The U.S. government has announced a new immigration policy that will examine the social media activity of immigrants and visa applicants for what it calls “antisemitic behavior.” The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), part of the Department of Homeland Security, said this could lead to visa or green card denials.
According to the USCIS, any content posted online that supports antisemitic views or harasses Jewish individuals may be treated as a reason to deny immigration benefits.
Who Will Be Affected?
This rule applies to people applying for:
-
Green cards (lawful permanent residency)
-
Student visas
-
Other visa types, especially those linked to schools or groups accused of antisemitism
USCIS said the rule targets online content that supports groups considered antisemitic or tied to terrorism, like Hamas, Hezbollah, or Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The agency stated:
“There is no room in the United States for the rest of the world’s terrorist sympathizers.”
Policy Comes Amid Rising Tensions Over Gaza Conflict
The policy is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to crack down on pro-Palestinian protests in the U.S., which intensified after Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023.
Since then, the administration has revoked visas, warned colleges about federal funding, and attempted to deport international students involved in pro-Palestinian activism. Officials often describe such protests as sympathetic to terrorist groups, though critics argue this is an overreach.
Free Speech Advocates Raise Serious Concerns
Civil rights groups, including Jewish organizations, have condemned the policy. They argue it threatens free speech and unfairly targets immigrants for political expression.
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) said:
“By surveilling visa and green card holders and targeting them based on nothing more than their protected expression, the administration trades America’s commitment to free and open discourse for fear and silence.”
The Nexus Project, a group fighting antisemitism, also criticized the policy for using antisemitism as a way to justify surveillance and crackdowns on immigrants.
No Clear Definition of “Antisemitic Activity”
One major issue is the lack of clarity in the policy. USCIS did not define what qualifies as “antisemitic activity,” nor did it list which schools or groups are being targeted. This opens the door to broad interpretations and potential misuse, critics warn.
This follows a separate proposal from the Department of Homeland Security to collect applicants' social media usernames when they apply for immigration benefits. That rule, still open to public comment until May 5, has also been called a threat to privacy.
Social Media Surveillance Is Not New—But This Goes Further
Social media checks have been part of immigration screening since the Obama era. However, this new policy goes further by monitoring people who already live legally in the U.S. The goal, according to officials, is to identify individuals who support antisemitic or terrorist groups and prevent them from staying in the country.
The Trump administration says online support for groups like Hamas or Hezbollah could now count against applicants.
