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Original Date Announced
April 9, 2025USCIS will begin considering noncitizens’ “antisemitic activity on social media and the physical harassment of Jewish individuals as grounds for denying immigration benefit requests,” including applications for lawful permanent resident status. Specifically, USCIS will consider social media content that indicates “endorsing, espousing, promoting, or supporting antisemitic terrorism, antisemitic terrorist organizations, or antisemitic activity” as a negative factor in any USCIS discretionary analysis when adjudicating immigration benefits requests.
Trump 2.0 [ID #1673]
2025.04.09 USCIS - DHS to Begin Screening Social Media Activity for AntisemitismEffective Date
April 9, 2025Subsequent Trump and Court Action
August 19, 20252025.08.19 USCIS PA-2025-16 - Clarifying Discretionary Factors in Certain Immigration Benefit Requests
USCIS issued updated policy guidance for adjudicating immigration benefit requests. In particular, any connections to "anti-American" or "antisemitic" activities are assigned significant negative weight within the discretionary analysis.
View DocumentSubsequent Trump and Court Action
August 19, 20252025.08.19 USCIS - Policy Manual Chapter 8, Discretionary Analysis
USCIS updated its Policy Manual to add an additional factor to the list of "factors that may be considered" in adjudicating requests for immigration benefits. The factor includes "[w]hether the alien has endorsed, promoted, supported, or otherwise espoused anti-American views or the views of a terrorist organization or group (including in social media content by, or involving an alien). This includes organizations who support or promote anti-American ideologies or activities, antisemitic terrorism, antisemitic terrorist organizations, antisemitic ideologies, or has engaged in physical harassment of any person in furtherance of the organization or group." USCIS states that anti-American views will be determined based on Immigration and Nationality Act § 313(a). The previous version of the Policy Manual did not include a bullet such as this in the list.
View DocumentCurrent Status
NoneOriginal Trump Policy Status
Status: Final/ActualTrump Administration Action: Agency DirectiveSubject Matter: Immigrant Visas Non-Immigrant Visas Asylum, Withholding and CAT U/T/VAWAAssociated or Derivative Policies
- March 5, 2025 USCIS proposes to collect social media identifiers on certain forms to enhance screening and vetting of applicants
- March 25, 2025 Reported: DOS directive instructs consular officers to review all student-visa applicants' social media for terrorism-related inadmissibility
- May 30, 2025 DOS orders enhanced vetting for all Harvard visa applicants
Documents
Trump-Era Policy Documents
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