The U.S. government has announced it will begin screening the social media activity of immigrants and visa applicants for what it describes as “antisemitic activity.”
According to a statement by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), this new policy will apply to individuals seeking permanent residency (green cards), student visas, and those affiliated with institutions alleged to have ties to antisemitism.
The move comes amid a wider crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests in the U.S., following Israel’s military campaign in Gaza after the October 2023 Hamas attack. Critics argue that the administration is blurring the line between legitimate criticism of Israel and actual hate speech.
Rights groups, including Jewish organizations, have condemned the policy. They say it threatens free speech and unfairly targets immigrants and people of conscience. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) called it “formalized censorship,” warning that surveillance based on political views undermines America’s democratic values.
The Nexus Project, a group focused on combating antisemitism, also criticized the policy, saying it wrongly frames antisemitism as a problem imported by immigrants.