U.S. federal authorities are contemplating a substantial enhancement of the applicant screening process, which would require individuals seeking green cards, U.S. citizenship, or asylum and refugee status to disclose their social media accounts.
This initiative, put forth by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the agency tasked with overseeing legal migration, was announced in the Federal Register this week. USCIS asserts that such information is essential for conducting a thorough vetting and screening process for all applicants pursuing immigration-related benefits.
The rationale provided by USCIS for this proposed social media monitoring policy references the need to adhere to the executive order titled “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” which was issued by President Trump during the early days of his administration.
This order mandates that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other relevant government bodies:
Identify all resources that may be used to ensure that all aliens seeking admission to the United States, or who are already in the United States, are vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.
The public has 60 days, ending on May 5th, to submit comments regarding the proposed policy on social media account disclosure, following its announcement in the Federal Register. According to the notice, USCIS intends to require applicants for certain immigration benefits to include their social media handles on their application forms.
This requirement will extend to individuals applying for green cards, naturalization, asylum, refugee status, and to relatives of those who have been granted asylum or refugee status. USCIS anticipates that this proposed policy will affect more than 3.5 million individuals.
For more daily updates, please visit our News Section.