Social Media Apps
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Effective immediately, individuals seeking US immigration benefits must disclose their social media profiles, according to a recently enacted executive order signed by President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025.
The new regulation, which mandates the provision of social media handles on various immigration applications, intensifies scrutiny of applicants' online activity. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) formalized the requirement in a March 5, 2025, notice published in the Federal Register. Immigration officers will collect usernames associated with applicants’ public online profiles, but will not request passwords or private login credentials.
The notice initiates a 60-day public comment period before the policy is finalized, allowing stakeholders to voice concerns and feedback. The social media disclosure mandate applies to several key US immigration forms, including applications for citizenship (N-400), travel documents (I-131), non-immigrant entry permits (I-192), green cards (I-485), asylum (I-589), refugee classification (I-590), petitions for relatives of refugees/asylees (I-730), removal of residence conditions (I-751), and removal of permanent residence conditions for investors (I-829).
This development builds upon existing practices, with social media screening having been in use since at least 2016. The Trump administration’s Extreme Vetting Policy, introduced in 2017, initially made social media checks mandatory for visa applicants. In 2019, the State Department extended this requirement to nearly all visa categories. By 2021, the scope of social media screening expanded to include platforms based in countries such as China and Russia, reflecting ongoing national security concerns.
The implementation of this policy has generated debate among immigration advocates and privacy experts. While the government asserts that the regulation is essential for national security, critics argue that it may lead to increased processing times and potential misinterpretations of applicants’ online activity. Immigration attorneys are advising applicants to ensure the accuracy of their social media profiles and to avoid posting content that could be perceived as a security risk.
The requirement to disclose social media handles highlights ongoing tensions between national security objectives and individual privacy rights. The finalization of this policy will be closely monitored by both legal experts and advocacy groups, as its broader impact on the immigration process becomes clearer.