US immigration authorities announced on Wednesday that visa and residency applications will now be scrutinized based on social media activity, particularly posts deemed anti-Semitic by President Donald Trump’s administration.
Under the new policy, any content expressing support for groups classified as terrorist organizations by the US—including Hamas, Lebanon’s Hezbollah, and Yemen’s Houthi rebels—will be considered grounds for visa denial.
This decision follows previous actions by the Trump administration, including the controversial cancellation of student visas for individuals already within the United States, despite the First Amendment’s protection of free speech.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized the administration’s stance, stating, “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.”
According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will now factor in social media activity that “indicates an alien endorsing, espousing, promoting, or supporting anti-Semitic terrorism, anti-Semitic terrorist organizations, or other anti-Semitic activity” when determining visa or green card eligibility.
The policy takes immediate effect, impacting student visa applicants and individuals seeking permanent residency.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed last month that he had already revoked visas for approximately 300 individuals and was continuing to do so daily.
He further asserted that non-US citizens do not have the same rights as Americans regarding visa approvals, stressing that such decisions fall under his discretion, not that of the courts.
Some individuals affected by visa revocations claim they were unjustly targeted, stating they had never expressed anti-Semitic views. Others argue they were punished simply for being present at protest sites.
One of the most notable deportation cases is that of Mahmoud Khalil, a protest leader at Columbia University in New York. Despite holding US permanent residency, he was detained and transferred to Louisiana for deportation proceedings.
Additionally, the Trump administration has withdrawn millions of dollars in federal funding from top universities, accusing them of failing to adequately address anti-Semitism in response to recent protests over the Gaza conflict.
