USCIS to screen for ‘antisemitic activity’ on social media to block immigrant benefits

Federal immigration officials will begin screening social media for antisemitic activity to block immigration benefits, immigration officials announced on Wednesday.

A U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services news release said this included “antisemitic activity on social media and the physical harassment of Jewish individuals.” The guidance immediately affects people applying for lawful permanent status, foreign student visas and others affiliated with educational institutions, according to the release.

The announcement didn’t indicate how antisemitism would be defined, including criticism of Israel or its siege of Gaza and the West Bank. The administration has already accused students protesting the war in Gaza — including visa holders and lawful permanent residents — of terrorist activity or antisemitism. Officials have already stripped hundreds of people of their legal status in the U.S., detaining many on college campuses across the U.S. or forcing them to leave the country.

USCIS said officials would consider social media that indicates a person endorses, espouses, promotes or supports antisemitic terrorism, terrorist organizations or other antisemitic activity. Under the guidance, USCIS said it would count these as a negative factor in USCIS analysis to deny immigration benefit requests.

“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,” Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, which includes USCIS, said in a statement.

People who think they can “hide behind the First Amendment” protecting free speech to “advocate for antisemitic violence and terrorism — think again,” McLaughlin said, “You are not welcome here.”

Nico Perrino, executive vice president of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said in a statement that the policy indicates the administration aims to target visa and green card holders on “nothing more than their protected free speech.”

In doing so, he said, “the administration trades America’s commitment to free and open discourse for fear and silence. Unfortunately, that chill appears to be the administration’s aim.”

USCIS said this is consistent with President Donald Trump’s executive orders around antisemitism, as well as immigration restrictions.

Several international students who participated in pro-Palestinian campus protests, denying accusations of antisemitism, have sued the administration for losing their legal status, saying they were targeted for their speech.

(This story has been updated with new information.)

Contributing: Trevor Hughes

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