WASHINGTON – The Trump administration has introduced a plan to examine the past five years of social media activity of all individuals applying for US visas, marking a significant expansion of digital background checks.
An official notice published by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the Federal Register said that the move has been declared mandatory, although the government has not specified when the new policy will take effect.
Media reports suggest that the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will review applicants’ online posts to determine whether they have shared content considered anti-American, anti-Semitic or supportive of terrorism.
This comes as the US has already halted issuing visas to Afghan passport holders and suspended work on all pending asylum applications.
The American public has been invited to submit feedback on the proposed social media vetting measure within 60 days.
Under the plan, applicants seeking entry into the United States may be asked to provide family members’ email addresses, phone numbers and other personal details.
Earlier, the State Department instructed tourists in June to set their social media posts to “public,” and in August, the Trump administration signalled its intent to monitor social media activity of visa and green card applicants.
Experts warn that the expanded policy could jeopardise visa approvals for students, tourists and other visitors if they have ever posted content perceived as critical of the US. They also caution that immigration officers may use the new measure to reject applications on the basis of political bias or discrimination.
President Trump has already restricted immigration from 19 countries, with reports indicating that the list could expand to 30.
The latest proposal is expected to apply even to nationals of the UK and Germany, despite their current visa exemptions.
