A new U.S. immigration policy, now in effect, mandates that visa and green card applicants will be evaluated based on their social media activity. Posts deemed anti-Semitic by the Trump administration could lead to visa denials or revocation of permanent residency.
This policy affects both student visa holders and applicants for permanent resident status. According to U.S. officials, online content expressing support for groups classified by the U.S. as terrorist organizations—such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and Yemen’s Houthi movement—may be considered anti-Semitic and used as grounds for denial.
The move follows recent decisions to cancel visas for students already residing in the U.S., even though the First Amendment protects freedom of expression.Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized the administration’s zero-tolerance stance. “Anyone who believes they can invoke the First Amendment to promote anti-Semitic violence or terrorism will be denied entry. You are not welcome here,” said department spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will treat social media content that endorses or promotes anti-Semitic terrorism or associated groups as a negative factor when reviewing immigration benefits, according to a statement.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently confirmed that around 300 individuals have already had their visas revoked, with more removals occurring daily. He stressed that non-citizens do not have the same constitutional protections as U.S. citizens, and visa decisions remain at the discretion of immigration authorities, not the courts.Some individuals whose visas were canceled claim they were unfairly targeted, insisting they did not engage in anti-Semitic rhetoric and were only present near protest sites.
One of the most prominent deportation cases is that of Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent resident who led demonstrations at Columbia University. He was detained and moved to Louisiana for deportation proceedings.In a broader crackdown, the administration has also withdrawn millions in federal funding from several top universities, citing their failure to adequately respond to anti-Semitic incidents linked to recent Gaza-related campus protests.
Source : https://www.ndtv.com/
