Social media review of international students & prospective immigrants

Effective immediately, international students and people applying to immigrate to the U.S. will have their social media accounts reviewed for "antisemitic" statements.

What exactly "antisemitism" might be is not explained. The news release says the definition includes support for "terrorism," "violent antisemitic ideologies," and specific organizations, but that's not an exhaustive list. "Antisemitism" could encompass anything whatsoever. The government suggests that special attention will be paid to any non-citizen with a connection to a college where someone else has done an undefined antisemitic thing.

Today U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin considering aliens’ antisemitic activity on social media and the physical harassment of Jewish individuals as grounds for denying immigration benefit requests. This will immediately affect aliens applying for lawful permanent resident status, foreign students and aliens affiliated with educational institutions linked to antisemitic activity.
— U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, April 9, 2025

We shouldn't assume that the U.S. government is credibly, responsibly, and effectively fighting real antisemitism.

The point is that the government is reviewing the social media accounts of international students and immigrants. Not only might they deny the person entrance to the US, they might do other things to that person — especially if they're already in the country.

Further, there is no reason to expect that the government will limit its attention to international students and immigrants. The government can take a look at anyone's social media at any time. If they're reviewing one person's social media, they're looking at everyone who interacts with that person.

Take this as yet another reminder:

1. They're invoking the need to protect Jews, yet they're doing something very different. If you are Jewish (as I am), you may judge this policy (go ahead) to be offensive, counterproductive, and in bad faith. Jews who actively approve of this policy are complicit in how the policy will harm others, and the government will use them as tools to defend what it's doing.
2. Pay attention to what you post, for your own sake and the sake of others. Help protect the anonymity of people who are likely to be targeted. Delete old posts and old accounts that no longer serve any useful purpose.

Again, when the government reviews social media for political speech, it may or may not intend to target antisemites or terrorists, whatever those terms are supposed to mean. These are the government's code words for whomever it chooses to arrest. Everyone (not only immigrants) is at some risk.