Photo of Tim Gouw in Unsplash
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has implemented a new guideline requiring it to evaluate whether applicants for immigration benefits—such as residency, work permits, or citizenship—have publicly expressed views considered "anti-American," anti-Semitic, or linked to terrorist organizations. This policy, in effect since August 19, adds to the Trump administration's growing focus on ideological values as part of immigration profiling and processing.
Keys to the measure:
Immigration officers must consider whether applicants have "endorsed, promoted, supported, or expressed" ideas contrary to the values of the United States or related to antisemitism or terrorism. These behaviors are considered highly negative grounds that can lead to the rejection of applications, even if the technical requirements are met.
The directive is based on Cold War laws that prohibited naturalization of people affiliated with communism or anarchism; however, the current terms are extremely vague and leave large gray areas.
Social media scrutiny of applicants has also been strengthened, expanding surveillance to platforms such as X, Facebook, Instagram and others to detect messages linked to “anti-Americanism” or prohibited ideologies.
The new policy is part of a stricter assessment of “good moral character,” which now requires evidence of positive contributions to society—such as education, family care, or community involvement—and not just the absence of a criminal record.
Reactions and concerns
Experts and human rights advocates warn that the lack of precise definitions leaves room for arbitrary, biased, or personal prejudiced decisions by immigration officials.
The new directive could significantly slow visa processing and immigration adjudication, as well as act as a deterrent to those who fear that expressing critical opinions could harm them.
Attorney Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Immigration Council compared the measure to the McCarthy era, with its emphasis on “anti-American ideologies or activities” without a clear framework.
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