Uncle Sam mulls policing social media of would-be citizens

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is considering expanding its social media monitoring to include non-citizens already residing in the U.S. who are applying for immigration benefits, such as permanent residency or citizenship. This proposal follows a 2019 directive requiring individuals seeking entry into the U.S. on work visas to disclose their social media accounts for scrutiny. The recent initiative is part of a broader effort, initiated by an executive order from President Trump, aimed at enhancing vetting processes for foreign nationals. The proposed changes would require non-citizens undergoing immigration processes to have their social media activity reviewed for any signs of subversion or hostility towards U.S. values. Critics, including immigration experts, warn that this could complicate the application process and deter immigrants from using social media. The USCIS estimates that this increased scrutiny will require an additional 285,999 hours of staff time annually, although it claims this will not incur extra costs, suggesting potential automation of the process. The public has a 60-day comment period to provide feedback on these proposed changes.

- USCIS plans to monitor social media of non-citizens applying for immigration benefits.

- The initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance vetting of foreign nationals.

- Critics express concerns about the complexity and chilling effects on immigrants' social media use.

- The proposal is expected to require significant additional staff hours for social media analysis.

- A 60-day public comment period is open for feedback on the proposed changes.