On April 9, 2025, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced it will begin to screen noncitizens’ social media posts for evidence of antisemitic activity and use the content as grounds for denying immigration benefits requests. The policy, which will go in effect immediately, will affect foreign nationals applying for permanent resident status, foreign students, and foreign nationals “affiliated with educational institutions linked to antisemitic activity.”

Under the guidance, USCIS will consider social media content that indicates a noncitizen “endorsing, espousing, promoting, or supporting antisemitic terrorism, antisemitic terrorist organizations, or other antisemitic activity as a negative factor in any USCIS discretionary analysis when adjudicating immigration benefit requests.” The announcement was made after the recent revocation of over 300 student visas by the Department of State and is in line with President Trump’s executive orders.

Additionally, the administration published a Federal Register Notice last month seeking public comment on its intention to begin collecting information on online social media presence for foreign nationals who apply for immigration benefits on nine immigration forms, with the aim to enhance security screenings for non-citizens.