Federal immigration officials to screen social media for antisemitism posts

04/15/2025 / By Laura Harris

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will now screen applicants’ social media for antisemitic activity, which can lead to the denial of visas, green cards or student visas.
Support for antisemitism, terrorist groups (e.g., Hamas, Hezbollah) or extremist ideologies (communism, Marxism, fascism) will bar individuals from U.S. residency or citizenship.
The policy does not specify how antisemitism will be defined, leaving room for interpretation in enforcement.
The measure aligns with Trump’s 2024 campaign pledges to restrict immigration based on ideological threats, citing Hamas’ October attack on Israel as justification.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will apply immigration laws “to the maximum degree” to exclude or deport those linked to antisemitism or terrorism.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a new policy authorizing federal officials to screen social media activity for alleged antisemitism as part of immigration evaluations.

“Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin considering aliens’ antisemitic activity on social media and the physical harassment of Jewish individuals as grounds for denying immigration benefit requests,” USCIS said on April 9.

Under the new guidance, visa applicants, lawful permanent residents and foreign students affiliated with educational institutions could face denial of immigration benefits if their social media history indicates “antisemitic activity,” including endorsing “antisemitic terrorism” or supporting groups deemed terrorist organizations. (Related: Trump administration to launch registry for illegal immigrants: Fines and arrests for noncompliance.)

This new enforcement policy will immediately impact applications for lawful permanent residency, student visas and other immigration requests – particularly those linked to individuals or institutions associated with antisemitism.

However, the announcement did not clarify how antisemitism would be defined.

Trump fulfills campaign promise to combat antisemitism and national security threats

The directive reinforces President Donald Trump’s executive orders on combating antisemitism and national security threats. These orders include Combatting Anti-Semitism, Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism and Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.

Prior to winning the presidency, he already announced this plan during his 2024 presidential campaign in Iowa on Oct. 16.

“No longer will we allow dangerous lunatics, haters, bigots and maniacs to get residency in our country,” Trump said during his speech at that time. He also warned his supporters that those who “empathize with radical Islamic terrorists and extremists,” wish to “abolish the state of Israel” or “support Hamas,” and the ideology behind it will be “disqualified” from potential citizenship. Communists, Marxists and fascists will likewise be disqualified.

“The atrocities in Israel are a horrific reminder that immigration security is national security,” Trump said. “The purpose of U.S. immigration law is not to protect the world–it’s to protect the United States of America.” Trump then cited the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel as a main factor behind his proposal and his advocacy toward hardline immigration issues.

In line with this, he empowered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enforce immigration laws “to the maximum degree” against foreign nationals who support antisemitic terrorism, extremist ideologies or groups like Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis.

“There is no room in the United States for the rest of the world’s terrorist sympathizers, and we are under no obligation to admit them or let them stay here,” said DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin. “Sec. 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.”

Watch the video below to learn how more illegal immigrants are entering the Western world.

This video is from the RockOfHoreb channel on Brighteon.com.