For several years the United States Department of State has been requesting social media information of non-immigrant and immigrant visa applicants. However, now USCIS wants to obtain the social media handles for those already in the United States applying for various benefits including asylum, green cards, and U.S. citizenship.
The basis for this increased scrutiny is the executive order “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.” The administration asserts that the purpose of requesting this information is, in part, to provide “uniform vetting standards” and to identify possible national security threats.
However, given that this administration’s definition of a national security threat is so broad that it includes a journalist criticizing the current U.S. president or a student liking or sharing a social media post the government has deemed inappropriate, USCIS gaining access to additional social media information of potential applicants appears to be yet another way that this administration seeks to limit lawful immigration into this country.
If you have any concerns about this or any of the new policies, please call the attorney at (714) 605-4393 or send an email to info@monilaw.com.
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