The Trump administration announced Tuesday that immigrants seeking to live or work in the United States will now be subject to screenings aimed at weeding out “anti-Americanism.”
Under the new policy, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers will be allowed to treat anti-American beliefs as “overwhelmingly negative factors” when deciding whether to approve green cards, visas, or citizenship applications. Officers will consider whether an applicant has “endorsed, promoted, supported, or otherwise espoused” anti-American, anti-Semitic, or pro-terrorist views.
“America’s benefits should not be given to those who despise the country and promote anti-American ideologies. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is committed to implementing policies and procedures that root out anti-Americanism and supporting the enforcement of rigorous screening and vetting measures to the fullest extent possible,” said USCIS spokesman Matthew Tragesser. In a public statement. “Immigration benefits—including to live and work in the United States—remain a privilege, not a right.”
The agency did not provide a clear definition of “anti-Americanism,” but pointed to the Immigration and Nationality Act, which bars individuals tied to terrorism, antisemitism, or “world communism” from obtaining citizenship. USCIS officers will have discretion when weighing whether applicants fall under such restrictions.
“The message is that the U.S. and immigration agencies are going to be less tolerant of anti-Americanism or antisemitism when making immigration decisions,” said Elizabeth Jacobs, director of regulatory affairs and policy at the Center for Immigration Studies, according to the Associated Press. Jacobs noted that discretion is still in place and that “The agency cannot tell officers that they have to deny — just to consider it as a negative discretion.”
The directive follows a policy implemented by the Trump administration earlier this year that saw an expansion of social media vetting to better evaluate applicants. The administration has also expanded its “good moral character” standard for naturalization, with USCIS officers being directed to weigh not just disqualifying behavior but positive characteristics that an individual contributes to their community.
