US to screen social media of visa applicants who spent time in Gaza
United States will begin screening the social media activity of foreign nationals applying for visas who have visited the Gaza Strip at any point since 2007, according to an internal State Department cable obtained by Reuters.
The directive, signed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, applies to both immigrant and non-immigrant visa applicants—including tourists, students, and aid workers—who have spent “any length of time in an official or diplomatic capacity” in Gaza since January 1, 2007. The order also includes employees and volunteers of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).
If the review reveals any “potential derogatory information relating to security issues,” the applicant’s case will be escalated for interagency review to assess whether they pose a threat to US national security.
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Rubio has previously stated that over 300 visas have already been revoked this year, including those of international students who publicly criticized Israeli Occupation’s war on Gaza. Critics argue this move undermines freedom of speech, which is protected by the US Constitution for all individuals on US soil regardless of visa status.
The policy comes amid rising tensions between the White House and prominent universities, many of which have become flashpoints for protests against the war in Gaza. President Donald Trump has escalated his campaign against these institutions, particularly Harvard University, freezing over USD 2.2 billion in federal funding after it refused to comply with policy changes demanded by his administration.
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Among those demands: eliminating affirmative action in admissions, screening students for so-called hostility to American values, and taking action against what the administration describes as rising anti-Semitism on campuses.
Earlier this week, the Department of Homeland Security warned that Harvard could lose its ability to host international students due to its “radical ideology” and alleged support for “foreign visa-holding rioters.”
