Trump Administration to Monitor Immigrants’ Social Media for Antisemitism, Sparking Backlash

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a new policy to monitor immigrants’ social media activity for anti-Semitic content, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from civil rights groups and progressive Jewish organizations.

According to the official USCIS statement, the agency will now consider anti-Semitic posts and incidents of physical harassment against Jewish individuals as potential grounds to deny immigration benefits. This policy will apply to green card applicants, international students, and individuals affiliated with educational institutions linked to anti-Semitic activity.

“There is no room in America for terrorist sympathizers from abroad,” said Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security. “We will not tolerate individuals using the First Amendment as a shield to promote anti-Semitic violence or terrorism.”

The announcement comes amid growing protests across the U.S. against Israel’s military operations in Gaza, and amid broader efforts by the Trump administration to tighten immigration controls.

Rights Groups Condemn the Move

Several advocacy groups have condemned the policy, calling it an attempt to suppress dissent and further anti-immigrant policies under the pretense of combating hate.

“This isn’t about fighting antisemitism—it’s about weaponizing Jewish identity to push an authoritarian immigration agenda,” said Bend the Arc, a progressive Jewish advocacy organization.

The Nexus Project, a nonprofit focused on fighting antisemitism and protecting free speech, also voiced concern. “Using terms like ‘terrorist sympathizer’ as a vague and politically charged justification to deny immigration rights is dangerous,” the group stated in a post on BlueSky.

Immigration Crackdown Intensifies

Since the start of the Trump administration’s second term, immigration authorities have detained multiple international students, including legal permanent residents. Among them is Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder arrested in early March in front of his pregnant wife. Another case involves Badar Khan Suri, an Indian postdoctoral researcher at Georgetown University, accused by DHS of having ties to Hamas—an allegation he denies.

Critics warn that such policies risk criminalizing political expression, particularly among students and immigrants involved in peaceful protest.