Chandigarh 25 March 2025 (Punjab Khabarnama Bureau): Are you a Green Card holder in America? Then this might concern you, as the Trump administration recently proposed expanding social media vetting for green card applicants already residing in the U.S.
Currently, visa applicants applying from outside the U.S. must submit their social media handles as part of the screening process. However, this new proposal seeks to extend the same requirement to individuals already living in the country who are applying for permanent residency or seeking asylum.
“In a review of information collected for admission and benefit decisions, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) identified the need to collect social media identifiers (‘handles’) and associated social media platform names from applicants to enable and help inform identity verification, national security and public safety screening, and vetting, and related inspections,” the agency stated on March 5.
Notably, many Indians in the U.S. are really very active contributors in Indian and US politics, talking of issues such as the Modi Government, the India and US relationship, global affairs, etc. Increased scrutiny from the government could encourage applicants to abstain from speaking on political matters online due to the risk of negative consequences.
USCIS justified the move, stating that it is essential for “enhanced identity verification, vetting, and national security screening,” citing Trump’s executive order, ‘Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats’ as the legal basis for this proposal.
Summary: The Trump administration’s new social media policy increases scrutiny on visa holders, including Indian Green Card holders, potentially affecting residency status and entry permissions.