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As of March 5, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has introduced a regulation mandating that immigrants disclose their social media handles when applying for US visas, green cards, or citizenship.
This policy, stemming from Executive Order 14161 signed on January 20, 2025, is intended to strengthen national security by providing a more comprehensive assessment of individuals seeking entry into the US. The regulation, detailed in the Federal Register, will potentially affect over 3.5 million immigration applicants annually. The DHS has initiated a 60-day public comment period before finalizing the policy.
This development will impact individuals applying through key immigration forms such as the N-400 (Application for US Citizenship), I-485 (Adjustment of Status for Green Card), and I-589 (Application for Asylum). Applicants will be required to provide their social media handles, but not their passwords.
Social media screening has been a growing aspect of the US immigration procedures since 2016, when the DHS and US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began monitoring applicants' online activities and established a Social Media Division within USCIS.
The Trump administration's Extreme Vetting Policy of 2017 further mandated social media checks for visa applicants. By 2019, the US State Department extended this requirement to nearly all visa applicants, and by 2021, social media screening expanded to include platforms from countries such as China and Russia. Analysts suggest that this policy reflects an increasing trend of surveillance in the digital age.
While the government emphasizes its importance in safeguarding national security, the regulation raises concerns about privacy and potential overreach. Critics are urging for stringent safeguards to protect individuals' privacy rights amidst the increased surveillance.