The US government announced a new policy on Wednesday that will allow immigration authorities to deny visas and green cards based on social media content deemed anti-Semitic. Under the new rules, posts supporting militant groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Huthi rebels, which are classified as terrorist organizations by the US, will be considered a factor in visa or residence permit decisions.
This move follows controversial actions under the Trump administration, which has already revoked visas for students in the US. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized that individuals advocating for anti-Semitic violence or terrorism would not be allowed into the country, despite the First Amendment’s protections for free speech.
The policy is now in effect and applies to both student visas and permanent resident applications. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that hundreds of visas had already been revoked, and he emphasized that non-US citizens don’t have the same rights as Americans regarding visa approvals.
Some individuals affected by this move argue they were unjustly targeted, claiming they were never involved in anti-Semitic behavior. One high-profile case involves Mahmoud Khalil, a US permanent resident, who was detained ahead of deportation despite his involvement in protests at Columbia University.
