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DHS USCIS Began Screening Social Media of F1 Students and Green Card Applicants for Antisemitism, Extremism

4/16/2025

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On April 9, 2025, USCIS began considering non US citizens antisemitic activity on social media and the physical harassment of Jewish individuals as grounds for denying immigration benefit requests. This will immediately affect foreign nationals applying for lawful permanent resident status (aka Green Card), foreign students (F-1 visa) and other foreign nationals affiliated with educational institutions linked to antisemitic activity.
Consistent with President's executive orders on Combatting Anti-Semitism, Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism and Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats, DHS will enforce all relevant immigration laws to the maximum degree, to protect the homeland from extremists and terrorist aliens, including those who support antisemitic terrorism, violent antisemitic ideologies and antisemitic terrorist organizations such as Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, or Ansar Allah aka: “the Houthis.”

Under this guidance, USCIS 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 guidance is effective immediately.

​Please read more at USCIS website.


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Vetting of Visa Applicants, Green Card Holders, Students, Exchange Visitors by DOS

4/10/2025

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The new administration is subjecting visa applicants and even permanent residents (green card holders) to additional vetting and has placed a “temporary pause” on certain green card applications “to do more vetting.” For example, the green card applications of parolees, asylees and refugees.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently sent a cable to some Department of State employees on enhanced screening and social media vetting of visa applicants. Among other things, the cable states that effective immediately, consular officers must refer new or returning student and exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa applicants to the Fraud Prevention Unit (FPU) for a mandatory social media check if they meet certain criteria:
  • An applicant who the officer has reason to believe has openly advocated for a designated foreign terrorist organization;
  • An applicant who was previously in the United States in F-1, M-1, or J-1 visa status between October 7, 2023, and August 31, 2024;
  • An applicant whose previous SEVIS record was terminated between October 7, 2023, and the present.

​The cable states that evidence that an applicant:
…advocates for terrorist activity, or otherwise demonstrates a degree of public approval or public advocacy for terrorist activity or a terrorist organization, may be indicative of ineligibility. [This may be] evident in conduct that bears a hostile attitude toward U.S. citizens or U.S. culture (including government, institutions, or founding principles). Or it may be evident in advocacy or sympathy for foreign terrorist organizations. All of these matters may open lines of inquiry regarding the applicant’s credibility and purpose of travel.
The cable notes that a consular officer’s revocation of a visa “must be based on an actual finding that the individual is ineligible for the visa,” not merely on suspected ineligibility or based on derogatory information that is insufficient to support an ineligibility finding “other than a revocation based on driving under the influence.” If an officer suspects ineligibility, the post should refer the case for further review. Some students on visas or even with green cards have been detained and targeted for removal under INA § 237(a)(4)(C)(i), which authorizes the Secretary of State to “personally determine that [an] alien’s presence would compromise a compelling U.S. foreign policy interest” even if their statements, associations, and beliefs would be lawful.
​
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    Luba Smal is an attorney exclusively practicing USA federal immigration law since 2004.  She speaks English and Russian. 

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