USCIS to Screen Certain Applicants’ Social Media for “Antisemitic Activity”

On April 9, 2025, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will consider any social media content that indicates a noncitizen is  “endorsing, espousing, promoting, or supporting antisemitic terrorism, antisemitic terrorist organizations, or other antisemitic activity,” as well as the physical harassment of Jewish individuals, as negative factors when adjudicating immigration benefit requests. This means that USCIS adjudicators will review the social media accounts of certain applicants and beneficiaries, and any content found to be “antisemitic activity” may be used as a basis to deny an application or petition. 

The USCIS policy is effective immediately and applies to the following noncitizens applying for immigration benefits in the United States:

• noncitizens who are applying for lawful permanent resident status (adjustment of status/green card applicants);

• foreign students; and 

• noncitizens affiliated with educational institutions linked to “antisemitic activity.” 

This increased vetting and scrutiny for certain applicants is consistent with the Trump Administration’s Executive Orders Combatting Anti-Semitism, Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism, and Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats. 

What this Means for Our Clients

The USCIS announcement is silent on how the USCIS will review a person’s social media activities, and does not provide a precise definition of what constitutes “antisemitic content.” Concerns have been raised that statements that are critical of Israeli policy, or US policy supportive of Israel, may be considered ‘antisemitic’. We recommend our clients who are impacted by this policy to review their social media activities for any content that may be construed as antisemitic or in support of persons or organizations considered to be related to antisemitic terrorism by the Administration.