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Trump Wants Green Card Applicants in the U.S. to Hand Over Social Media Profiles
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Updated on Mar 25, 2025
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Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Content Manager
The Trump administration’s new proposal requires immigrants applying for green cards, permanent residency, or asylum in the U.S. to provide their social media handles.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Critics argue the policy violates free speech and threatens privacy rights.
- Over 3.5 million applicants could be affected annually by the proposal.
- Public feedback on the proposal is open until May 5.
Previously, this requirement only applied to those outside the country. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) stated that collecting social media information is necessary for “enhanced identity verification, vetting, and national security screening,” as first reported by The Intercept.
The Independent notes that critics argue that this proposal violates free speech and threatens privacy. Civil rights groups worry it will disproportionately target Muslim and Arab applicants, especially those who express support for Palestinian human rights.
Robert McCaw, from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said this policy could silence lawful speech and disproportionately affect people from countries with different political climates, as noted by The Intercept.
The proposal follows concerns raised by incidents involving green card holders, like Mahmoud Khalil, detained after being labeled “pro-Hamas” for participating in protests, as previously reported by the AP and Axios.
The Intercept says that the plan could impact over 3.5 million applicants annually, including those who have lived in the U.S. for years.
Many worry that monitoring social media could lead to government overreach. Saira Hussain, from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, warned that automated systems might punish controversial speech, as reported by The Intercept.
She added that the First Amendment should protect everyone, regardless of their immigration status. Public feedback on the proposal is being collected until May 5, with many commenters expressing concerns over privacy and free speech.
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