The Trump administration has proposed requiring legal immigrants in the U.S. applying for a green card to share their social media accounts. This move has sparked criticism, with many seeing it as an attack on free speech.
Currently, applicants for visas from abroad must provide their social media handles to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The new proposal would expand this requirement to include those already living in the U.S. who are seeking permanent residency or asylum.
USCIS claims the proposal is necessary for better identity verification, vetting, and national security screening. The agency also states it is in line with Trump’s executive order “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.”
In a statement, USCIS explained that collecting social media handles would help inform the process of identity verification, national security checks, and related inspections. The public has until May 5 to submit feedback, and the majority of comments so far have opposed the proposal.
One anonymous commenter stated, “So the US is heading for authoritarian now. Anything the current administration doesn’t like means bad. This is a violation to the First Amendment.” Another comment warned, “The fear of government scrutiny of online expression will undoubtedly stifle free speech,” particularly for people from countries with different political climates.
Of the 143 comments received, 29 mentioned concerns about free speech. “This policy undermines the fundamental values that make America a beacon of freedom, including free speech, privacy, and human rights,” another commenter said.
The proposal follows incidents like the detention of green card holder Mahmoud Khalil, who was labeled “pro-Hamas” by the Trump administration, and the deportation of Rasha Alawieh, a Brown University doctor on an H-1B visa. U.S. officials reviewed Alawieh’s phone and found she followed the teachings of a Hezbollah leader.
Civil rights groups are concerned that the policy would unfairly target people critical of U.S. policies, especially those from Muslim and Arab backgrounds. Robert McCaw, from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told The Intercept, “Collecting social media identifiers is a way to silence lawful speech,” particularly for those supporting Palestinian human rights.
McCaw also expressed worry that the policy would lead to ongoing monitoring of social media even after people become U.S. citizens.
The proposal comes as the IRS is reportedly working on an agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to use tax data for verifying the identities of individuals suspected of being in the country illegally, raising concerns about privacy and the potential misuse of personal information.
The Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration has recently shifted focus to include green card and visa holders. Earlier this month, Fabian Schmidt, a German electrical engineer with a green card since 2008, was arrested at Boston Logan International Airport. Additionally, a Milwaukee mother who had been a permanent U.S. resident since she was a baby was deported to Laos, a country she had never been to, after agreeing to a plea deal over cannabis charges.
