The United States immigration authorities announced on Wednesday that they will begin scrutinising social media activity and deny visas or residency permits to individuals who post content deemed anti-Semitic by the administration of President Donald Trump.
According to the new policy, online posts that express support for groups designated by the U.S. government as terrorist organisations—including Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthi movement in Yemen—will be considered anti-Semitic. The administration argues that such expressions amount to promoting anti-Semitic terrorism.
The decision follows a series of contentious actions taken by the Trump administration, including the revocation of student visas for individuals already residing in the United States. These actions have raised concerns, particularly given that the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects freedom of speech.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has taken a firm stance on the matter. “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,” Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.
According to the statement, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services “will consider social media content that indicates an alien endorsing, espousing, promoting or supporting anti-Semitic terrorism, anti-Semitic terrorist organisations or other anti-Semitic activity as a negative factor” when determining eligibility for immigration benefits.
The policy is effective immediately and applies to all visa categories, including student visas and applications for permanent residency or “green cards.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking late last month, revealed that visas had already been revoked for approximately 300 individuals, and that such revocations were occurring on a daily basis. Rubio asserted that non-citizens do not enjoy the same rights as U.S. citizens and that decisions about visa issuance or denial rest with his office, not with judges.
“A number of people stripped of visas contend that they never voiced antipathy for Jews,” the report noted, “with some saying that they were targeted because they found themselves in the same place as protests.”
One of the most widely publicised cases involves Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent U.S. resident who led protests at Columbia University in New York. Despite his residency status, Khalil was transferred to Louisiana pending deportation proceedings.
In a broader crackdown, the Trump administration has also withdrawn millions of dollars in federal funding from prominent universities. Officials claim these institutions failed to adequately address anti-Semitism amid widespread campus protests linked to the Gaza conflict.
