US Implements Stricter Visa Guidelines for People Making Anti-Semitic Posts

On Wednesday, the U.S. government revealed stricter visa and residency guidelines, announcing that it will deny entry or permanent status to applicants whose social media posts are determined to be anti-Semitic, with examples including support for groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, or the Houthis. The changes, implemented immediately, apply to both student visa and green card applications and require immigration officials to scrutinize an applicant’s online activity more closely.

Kristi Noem, the Secretary for Homeland Security, stated that non-citizens who are “advocating anti-Semitic violence or terrorism” will no longer be able to “hide behind free speech protections.” U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be factoring social media in its decisions on benefits informing future immigration actions, particularly with regards to “social media posts that endorse and encourage anti-Semitic extremism.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that he has revoked hundreds of visas already, claiming that he has the authority to deny entry without needing a court.

Critics of the policy contend that it raises the specter of confusing free speech and extremism, pointing to situations in which visa holders were stripped of their status despite affirming they had no anti-Jewish views. Additionally, critics draw on situations like Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student who was the leader of protests and a permanent resident, who was held on the verge of deportation, as an example of overreach.