The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is to begin examining and considering travellers’ activity on social media. It says it will deny entry if the content is deemed anti-semitic.
USCIS announced on April 9 that this would affect those applying for lawful permanent resident status, foreign students and people affiliated to educational institutions linked to anti-semitic activity.
The content that could lead to refusal of entry includes posts in support of groups the US considers terrorists including Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, or Ansar Allah, aka: the Houthis.
“The Department of Homeland Security will enforce all relevant immigration laws to the maximum degree, to protect the homeland from extremists and terrorist aliens, including those who support anti-semitic terrorism, violent antisemitic ideologies and antisemitic terrorist organizations.”
Canada has warned in a travel advisory for the US: “US border agents are entitled to search your electronic devices when you are entering the United States. They don’t need to provide a reason when requesting a password to open your device.
“If you refuse, they may seize your device. The border agent could also delay your travel or deny entry. Before crossing the border, put your device in airplane mode to ensure remote files don’t get downloaded accidentally.”
“There is no room in the United States for the rest of the world’s terrorist sympathisers, and we are under no obligation to admit them or let them stay here,” said DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Tricia McLaughlin. “Sec Noem has made it clear that anyone who thinks they can come to America and hide behind the First Amendment to advocate for anti-semitic violence and terrorism – think again. You are not welcome here.”
“Under this guidance, USCIS will consider social media content that indicates an alien endorsing, espousing, promoting, or supporting anti-semitic terrorism, anti-semitic terrorist organisations, or other anti-semitic activity as a negative factor in any USCIS discretionary analysis when adjudicating immigration benefit requests. This guidance is effective immediately,” read the statement.
