Once again, the Trump administration has invoked national security concerns to push through an immigration measure that critics say violates the right to privacy and freedom of expression. The proposal allows U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to access the social media accounts of asylum, permanent residency, and naturalization applicants. The information obtained would be used to determine their eligibility to remain in the United States.
“This is a major violation of freedom of expression, guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, and is therefore unconstitutional and illegal,” reads one of the comments to the measure.
The public has until May 5 to share their opinions on the initiative, which will help the executive branch decide whether it goes into effect. Many of the responses — largely submitted anonymously — argue the initiative violates the right to freedom of expression, some more strongly than others.
“A violation of freedom of expression and an attempt by a fascist authoritarian aspiring dictator to crush dissent,” reads one comment.
If the measure goes ahead, authorities will require immigrants applying for permanent residency to disclose their usernames on all social media platforms they use. While this requirement was already in place for visa applicants abroad, it had not previously applied to those already living in the United States.
The proposal is part of the executive order “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” which Trump signed on January 20, the day he took office.
USCIS justifies the order by stating that it “requires the collection of all information necessary for a rigorous vetting and screening of all grounds of inadmissibility or bases for the denial of immigration-related benefits.” The data obtained will be used “to help validate an applicant’s identity and determine whether such a grant of a benefit poses a security or public safety threat to the United States.”
