USCIS Proposes Social Media Disclosure for Immigrants

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has proposed a new rule requiring immigrants to disclose their social media identifiers as part of enhanced screening for national security and public safety purposes, in line with an executive order from President Donald Trump. This proposal aims to help detect potential security threats and extremist affiliations, and is part of a broader strategy to tighten border security and vetting processes. The proposal has been opened for a 60-day public comment period. While the U.S. State Department already requires social media information for visa applications abroad, this new measure could increase the backlog in the already strained USCIS system. Critics argue that the measure might lead to misinterpretations that could unjustly impact applicants. The changes reflect Trump's broader immigration policy shifts towards stricter border control and increased scrutiny of immigrants from countries deemed security risks.