US immigration authorities announced on Wednesday that they will now review social media accounts when processing visa and residence permit applications.
Applicants who post content deemed anti-Semitic by the Trump administration may be denied entry to the United States.
The new policy will include social media activity that supports militant groups classified as terrorists by the United States, such as Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
This move follows the Trump administration’s controversial decision to cancel visas for students already in the US, even though the First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that anyone attempting to use the First Amendment to support anti-Semitic violence and terrorism would not be allowed into the country.
Department spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin added that those endorsing or promoting anti-Semitic terrorism or affiliated organisations would face denial of visas or green cards.
The policy is effective immediately and applies to student visas and permanent residency applications. US Citizenship and Immigration Services will now consider social media content as a “negative factor” when determining eligibility for visas or green cards.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed that around 300 visas have been revoked so far, with more being cancelled daily. Rubio also stated that visa decisions were his prerogative, not that of judges.
Some individuals who lost their visas argue they were unfairly targeted, claiming they had never expressed anti-Semitic views.
One prominent case involves Mahmoud Khalil, who led protests at Columbia University in New York. He was detained in Louisiana pending deportation proceedings, despite being a US permanent resident.
The Trump administration has also withdrawn millions of dollars in federal funding from major universities, accusing them of failing to adequately address anti-Semitism during protests linked to the Gaza conflict.
