The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which handles applications for residence in the United States or for naturalization, has announced that it will strengthen its monitoring of social media posts by applicants for immigration to the United States. The Trump administration fully supports these policies and explains that agents will be tasked with looking for "anti-American" opinions.

A new step in the fight against immigration

“The benefits offered by the United States should not be extended to those who hold the country in contempt and promote anti-American ideologies,” Matthew Tragesser, a spokesman for the agency, said in a statement. “Immigration benefits, including the right to live and work in the United States, remain a privilege, not a right,” he added.

Authorities can rely on the US Immigration and Nationality Act. This law, which dates back to 1952, was primarily aimed at communists when it was first introduced. It sets out the elements that characterize anti-Americanism.

Since returning to power, Donald Trump has made the fight against immigration a key theme of his policy. For example, measures have been taken to deny or revoke short-term visas to individuals deemed incompatible with US foreign policy interests. The latest guidelines specify that authorities will also examine whether applicants "promote anti-Semitic ideologies."

In recent months, the Trump administration has accused international students of anti-Semitism for protesting Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip, accusations they deny. It has also targeted prominent universities, arguing that they were allowing anti-Semitic ideas to spread on their campuses. Earlier this week, the State Department announced that it had revoked 6,000 student visas since Secretary of State Marco Rubio took office in January.