US Immigration Agency Proposes Monitoring Immigrants’ Social Media for Extremism
The goal is to gather social media handles and platform names to identify possible security threats and extremist affiliations.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has suggested a new regulation that would require immigrants to provide their social media identifiers—or handles—as part of an enhanced screening process focused on public safety and national security.
As a part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), USCIS indicates that this collection is vital for identity verification and for spotting potential security threats and extremist connections.
The agency has initiated a 60-day public comment period to obtain input on the proposed rule.
The directive from Trump calls for federal agencies to establish stricter vetting protocols, especially for foreign nationals from nations classified as security risks. It emphasizes a standard vetting process, increased scrutiny for individuals from identified threat countries, and prompt measures to exclude or remove foreign nationals who pose public safety threats. Additionally, the order mandates a review of current immigration programs to ensure they do not jeopardize U.S. security interests.
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This initiative to strengthen border security is a response to what Trump has termed the “open borders” policy enacted by his successor, President Joe Biden, during a period that saw unprecedented levels of illegal immigration.
February marked Trump’s first complete month in office, a time he attributed the decrease in apprehensions to his policies.
In response, Biden, former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and other Biden administration officials have consistently denied allegations of an “open borders” policy, asserting that their approach seeks to balance enforcement with humanitarian protections.
