Social media as a border checkpoint in Trump’s America

The anti-immigration policies of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, implemented through the expansion of restrictive entry regulations, are affecting a growing number of people.

In May, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio introduced a policy to restrict visas for foreign nationals who, according to him, “censor” Americans.

In June, Trump signed a proclamation banning the entry of citizens from 12 countries and restricting the entry of citizens from seven others.

That same month, U.S. embassies were instructed to screen student visa applicants for what were described as “hostile attitudes” toward American citizens and institutions, and to require public access to their social media profiles.

At the same time, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has intensified detention and deportation operations and suspended refugee resettlement programs.

Earlier this year, travel to the United States by nationals of 19 countries was restricted.

Following a shooting in Washington, D.C., DHS Secretary Kristi Noem recommended expanding the list to 30–32 countries. She said: “I’m not speaking about the exact number, but it’s more than 30 countries, and the president is continuing to evaluate countries.”

Noem did not specify which countries would be added to the list.

The expansion of this list signals a further escalation of immigration measures adopted by the administration since the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C.

Prior to that, DHS officials said Trump had ordered a broad review of asylum cases approved under his predecessor, Democratic President Joe Biden, as well as green cards issued to citizens of 19 countries.

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has made the strict enforcement of immigration laws a top priority, deploying federal agents to major U.S. cities and turning away asylum seekers at the U.S.–Mexico border. While the Trump administration has focused heavily on deportations, it has placed far less emphasis on reshaping legal immigration pathways.

Record-breaking visa cancellations in the U.S.

Since January, the Trump administration has revoked nearly 85,000 visas across various categories—more than double the total number revoked last year.

More than 8,000 of the canceled visas belonged to international students.

According to a U.S. official, the primary reasons for visa revocations during this period included traffic violations, theft, and other offenses.

The U.S. State Department has also targeted individuals involved in protests against the Gaza war, accusing some of them of supporting terrorism.

According to reports, some visas have been revoked from individuals who expressed happiness over the assassination of far-right American figure Charlie Kirk.

The State Department announced that a policy of continuous screening would be applied to all 55 million foreign nationals who currently hold valid U.S. visas.

During Trump’s second term, the criteria for visa eligibility have been expanded.

New restrictions on various visa categories

A recently issued diplomatic document has outlined new restrictions for applicants of H-1B (work) visas.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) plans to introduce changes to the ESTA application process—the web-based travel authorization system—including expanded social media screening.

According to a public notice prepared by CBP for publication in the Federal Register, the agency intends to increase both the volume and types of information required from Visa Waiver Program applicants through the ESTA process. This includes new requirements for providing five years of social media history, as well as more detailed personal and family information covering the past five or ten years.

CBP will accept public comments on these changes and other planned modifications to the ESTA application process for 60 days following the publication of the notice.

The proposed social media directive by CBP would apply to anyone visiting the United States, whether or not they require a visa.

According to Sky News, all tourists—including those from countries such as France and the UK who do not require visas to enter the U.S.—would be subject to social media screening before being allowed entry, under new plans currently under review by U.S. border authorities.

Under the new framework, the submission of information would be mandatory. Additional required details would include email addresses and phone numbers used over the past five years, as well as the names, addresses, phone numbers, and dates of birth of family members.

CBP is also proposing that future ESTA applications require a selfie. In addition, the agency seeks to collect biometric data—including facial recognition, fingerprints, DNA, and iris scans—as part of the ESTA application. Currently, CBP only collects facial images and fingerprints at the U.S. border.

Serious criticism of the new U.S. immigration law

Multiple reports indicate that since Trump took office in January, travelers have been denied entry to the United States due to social media posts and messages found on their personal devices.

For example, in March, a French scientist was turned back at the U.S. border after messages expressing hatred toward Trump were reportedly found on his phone.

Although Trump had promised upon taking office to restore free speech on online platforms and end federal censorship, he has since found himself at the center of multiple free speech controversies.

In September, talk show host Jimmy Kimmel was removed from the ABC network (owned by Disney) over remarks related to the assassination of far-right figure Charlie Kirk.

Kimmel accused the Trump administration and its allies of making extensive efforts to exploit Charlie Kirk’s killing for political gain.

In April, Harvard University sued the Trump administration over what it described as unprecedented and inappropriate government interference, after $2.6 billion (£1.9 billion) in federal funding was frozen.

In its lawsuit, Harvard accused the government of launching a retaliatory campaign after the university rejected a list of 10 demands issued by a task force, which included sweeping changes related to campus protests, academics, and admissions.

In September, a judge ruled that the Trump administration’s freezing of billions of dollars in Harvard’s research funding was unconstitutional and retaliatory—a decision the U.S. government said it would appeal. No settlement has yet been reached.

The immigration law firm Fragomen warned in an advisory that if the plan is approved, CBP could begin rolling out the changes gradually over the following weeks and months.

The firm warned that expanded government data collection could lead to longer wait times for travelers seeking authorization to visit the United States.

One official from the firm said it would be interesting to observe tourism statistics after the implementation of the law.

The senior attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a digital rights organization, said in a statement that mandatory disclosure and monitoring of social media intensify damage to freedoms such as freedom of expression.

He added: “This approach has not been effective at finding terrorists or other bad actors, but it has weakened free speech and violated the privacy of innocent travelers—along with their families, friends, and American colleagues.