The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Wednesday (9) that it will begin tracking what it called “antisemitic activity” by foreigners on social media and physical harassment of Jews as grounds for denying immigration benefit requests. This will immediately affect foreigners applying for legal permanent resident status, foreign students, and foreigners affiliated with educational institutions linked to antisemitic activities.
“In accordance with President Trump’s executive orders on Combating Antisemitism, Additional Measures to Combat Antisemitism, and Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National and Public Security Threats, the DHS will apply all relevant immigration laws to the fullest extent to protect the country from extremists and foreign terrorists, including those who support antisemitic terrorism, violent antisemitic ideologies, and antisemitic terrorist organizations such as Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, or Ansar Allah, also known as ‘the Houthis,’” states the DHS announcement.
“There is no room in the United States for terrorist sympathizers from the rest of the world, and we have no obligation to admit them or let them stay here,” said DHS Deputy Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin. “Secretary Noem has made it clear that anyone who thinks they can come to the United States and hide behind the First Amendment to advocate for antisemitic violence and terrorism—think again. You are not welcome here.”
According to this guidance, USCIS will consider social media content indicating that a foreigner endorses, supports, promotes, or backs antisemitic terrorism, antisemitic terrorist organizations, or other antisemitic activities as a negative factor in any discretionary USCIS analysis when adjudicating immigration benefit requests. This guidance takes effect immediately.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on March 28 that more than 300 visas had already been revoked according to these criteria.
Source: USCIS