US monitoring immigrant social media stirs free speech fears
The United States has begun monitoring the social media of foreigners applying for legal residency in the USA, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Officials plan to focus on anti-Semitic content, but concerns have arisen over Washington's interpretation of this.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that it will scrutinise the social media activity of immigrants. The objective is to identify anti-Semitic content that may influence decisions regarding the granting of resident status.
The verification targets foreigners who apply for legal permanent resident status, international students, and those associated with educational institutions.
Discovery of anti-Semitic activity may result in denial of immigration benefits. This decision aligns with Donald Trump's regulations aimed at "protecting the homeland from extremists."
Concerns about the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's announcement
The announcement immediately raised concerns, including how the USA will define support for anti-Semitic activities and whether any criticism of Israel or its conduct in the war in Gaza will be sufficient to ban someone from the country.
The organisation Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression criticises these actions, arguing that they may restrict freedom of speech.
"The spirit of Joseph McCarthy is alive and well in the Trump administration, which has spent months dishonestly mischaracterizing legitimate criticism of the Israeli government’s war crimes in Gaza as antisemitic, pursuing witch hunts into American colleges, and threatening the free speech rights of immigrants," said Edward Ahmed Mitchell, deputy director of the 30-year-old Council on American-Islamic Relations, as quoted by Politico.
Meanwhile, the USA is revoking student visas and deporting students participating in protests against the war in the Gaza Strip.
