The US plans to expand its collection of social media data on immigrants.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is soliciting public and federal agency input on a controversial proposal requiring applicants for green cards, citizenship, and other immigration benefits to provide social media accounts. This move is intended to enforce President Donald Trump's executive order on national security.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection app One is used at a migrant tent camp in Mexico City, January 20, 2025. (Photo: AP)

Expanding social media monitoring

Social media monitoring is not new to U.S. immigration policy. It was implemented on a small scale during the Obama administration and expanded under the Trump administration. Currently, only visa applicants are required to provide social media accounts, but the new proposal would apply to those already legally present in the U.S., including asylum seekers, green card holders, and citizens.

The announcement on March 5th raised concerns from immigration rights and freedom of speech organizations. The requirement for social media information could lead to immigrants being judged based on their online activities, even if they have already undergone thorough background checks.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a 60-day public comment period on a plan to collect social media account information and platform names, although passwords are not required. The goal of this policy is to establish a “uniform screening standard” for identifying threats to national and public security. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the proposal aims to improve fraud detection, prevent identity theft, and ensure immigrants do not promote anti-American sentiments.

USCIS estimates that approximately 3.6 million people would be affected if this policy is approved.

AI applications in immigration monitoring.

AI is playing an increasingly important role in screening immigration information, especially when dealing with millions of social media accounts. However, according to Leon Rodriguez, former director of USCIS, this technology still has limitations and cannot yet replace security personnel in risk assessment. AI can miss or misinterpret information, leading to inaccurate decisions regarding an individual's immigration application.

Rachel Levinson-Waldman, an expert from the Brennan Center, warns that social media is a complex environment where true and false information are mixed. Using this data to make important immigration decisions could have negative consequences, especially if mistakes occur.

Furthermore, the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects freedom of speech, even for non-citizens. This raises the question: can the government deny a visa or deport an individual simply because of their social media views?

Expanding social media surveillance in the immigration process is a step forward in security checks, but it also raises significant challenges regarding privacy and freedom of speech. With the comment period ending on May 5th, the debate over balancing security and individual rights will continue.

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