On Wednesday, US immigration authorities revealed that they would scrutinize the social media accounts of immigrants and deny them visas or residence permits if their posts are considered anti-Semitic by President Donald Trump’s administration.
Anti-Semitic posts include social media activity in support of militant groups classified by the United States as terrorists, including Hamas, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Huthi insurgents.
The announcement comes after President Trump canceled visas for students inside the United States, where the First Amendment of the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech.
Speaking on the decision, department spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem “has made it clear that anyone who thinks they can come to America and hide behind the First Amendment to advocate for anti-Semitic violence and terrorism — think again. You are not welcome here.”
The statement added that the US Citizenship and Immigration Services “will consider social media content that indicates an alien endorsing, espousing, promoting or supporting anti-Semitic terrorism, anti-Semitic terrorist organizations or other anti-Semitic activity as a negative factor” in determining benefits.
Trump’s latest policy takes immediate effect and applies to student visas and requests for permanent resident “green cards” to stay in the United States.