US immigration: ‘anti-American’ views on social media to factor into decisions
‘America’s benefits should not be given to those who despise the country,’ said a US Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesman
US President Donald Trump’s administration said on Tuesday it would look for “anti-American” views, including on social media, when deciding on the right to live in the United States.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services, which handles requests to stay in the US or become a citizen, said it would expand vetting of the social media postings of applicants.
“America’s benefits should not be given to those who despise the country and promote anti-American ideologies,” agency spokesman Matthew Tragesser said in a statement.
The US Immigration and Nationality Act, which dates back to 1952, defines anti-Americanism, which at the time primarily focused on communists.
But the Trump administration has already moved aggressively to deny or rescind short-term visas for people deemed to go against US foreign policy interests, especially on Israel.