DHS Begins Screening Noncitizens’ Social Media Activity for “Anti-Semitism”

On April 9, 2025, USCIS announced that they would start screening noncitizens’ social media accounts for what they characterized as “antisemitic activity” and would use this information as grounds for denying immigration cases. USCIS stated that this policy change would immediately impact noncitizens applying for permanent residency, foreign students, and noncitizens affiliated with educational institutions “linked to antisemitic activity.” USCIS published on its website that they “will consider social media content that indicates an alien endorsing, espousing, promoting, or supporting antisemitic terrorism, antisemitic terrorist organizations, or other antisemitic activity as a negative factor in any USCIS discretionary analysis when adjudicating immigration benefit requests.” This policy change is connected to the Trump Administration’s targeting of pro-Palestinian protestors and severely risks censoring individuals in violation of their first amendment right to free speech.