The Trump administration announced plans to examine the social media activity of immigrants applying to enter the U.S. according to a Tuesday, March 4, 2025, statement. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which handles visa approvals, is proposing to collect this information to comply with a White House executive order aimed at enhancing national security and protecting the U.S. from terrorism.
A notice about the proposal will be published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, and the public will have 60 days to submit comments. The order, issued by President Trump on January 20, directed the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies to identify resources that can be used to thoroughly vet immigrants applying for U.S. immigration benefits.
USCIS stated that collecting social media data is necessary for assessing applicants’ eligibility for immigration benefits, verifying their identity, and evaluating whether they pose any security or safety risks, through no specific details on which visas or benefits might be impacted were provided.
References: Kreighbaum, Andrew. “USCIS Plans to Collect Immigrants’ Social Media Information” Bloomberg Law. March 4, 2025.
