People seeking to live, work, or study in the United States will now be denied visas if they display “anti-American attitudes,” U.S. authorities announced Tuesday. The new rule extends to applicants’ social media activity, sparking concern among immigration lawyers and rights groups.
According to updated policy guidelines from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), immigration officers are authorized to investigate whether applicants have engaged in “anti-American activities,” have ties to terrorist organizations, or have shown evidence of antisemitic activity.
The Trump administration had already introduced social media vetting for visa applicants in June. That system is now being broadened to cover “anti-American activities,” marking another step in the administration’s push for tougher immigration policies.
Officials say the policy is intended to protect national security. But critics argue it will discourage immigrants and foreign students from coming to the U.S. The State Department has already canceled more than 6,000 student visas this year.
In June, embassies and consulates were instructed to assess whether student visa applicants showed “hostile attitudes toward our citizens, culture, government, institutions, or the fundamental principles of our state.”
USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser defended the move, saying in a statement:
“Those who look at this country with hatred and promote anti-American ideology should not be granted the benefits of America. The agency is committed to eliminating anti-American attitudes and fully supports strict vetting and screening measures.”
However, the policy offers no clear definition of what qualifies as an “anti-American attitude.” It only specifies that the term covers support for “antisemitic terrorism, antisemitic terrorist organizations, and antisemitic ideologies.”
Officials pointed to the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 as precedent. That Cold War-era law barred communists, advocates of “world communism,” and anyone promoting the overthrow of the U.S. government from obtaining citizenship.
The announcement has already stirred confusion and debate online. Critics warn the vague language could give immigration officers sweeping power to reject applicants.
On Reddit, one user asked:
“Is opposing the recent attack in Iran or supporting a ceasefire in Gaza considered anti-American or antisemitic? If you dislike President Trump or share a South Park clip mocking him, does that count as anti-American?”
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, wrote on X:
“There is no precedent in immigration law for using the term ‘anti-American.’ Its definition depends entirely on the Trump administration.”
He compared the move to the McCarthy-era “Red Scare,” when fears of communism led to widespread political persecution.
Jenny Lily Lopez, a sociology professor at Brigham Young University, called the policy deeply troubling:
“They are allowing stereotypes, biases, and implicit prejudice to guide these decisions. That is truly concerning.”
