Attention Indian green card holders! Here’s how Trump’s new social media policy may affect you

If you are a green card holder in the United States, this may affect you.

A new proposal from US President Donald Trump’s administration could soon require green card holders living in America to disclose their social media accounts.

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Currently, applicants from other countries must already provide their social media handles when applying for US travel visas.

However, this change would directly impact green card holders already residing in the country.

But how would this policy be implemented, and why would social media details be required? How has the public responded to the proposal?

We will answer these questions.

How Trump’s social media policy could impact green card holders

As part of its immigration crackdown, the Trump administration may soon require green card holders in the US to disclose their social media accounts.

A new proposal from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) would extend this requirement to those already living legally in the country, including individuals applying for permanent residency or seeking asylum.

Notably, visa applicants from outside the US are already required to provide their social media handles as part of the screening process.

“In a review of information collected for admission and benefit decisions, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) identified the need to collect social media identifiers (‘handles’) and associated social media platform names from applicants to enable and help inform identity verification, national security and public safety screening, and vetting, and related inspections,” the agency said on March 5.

This policy could potentially give the White House the power to prevent critics from settling in the US.

Many Indians legally residing in the US, who actively engage in political discussions in both India and America, could be affected. The heightened scrutiny may discourage individuals from expressing political views online due to fears of repercussions.

The proposal aims to extend these social media checks to existing residents, including green card holders and asylum seekers applying for permanent residency.

This move comes as part of the Trump administration’s broader push for stricter immigration enforcement, which includes closer monitoring of green card and visa holders.

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What is the reason behind the move?

USCIS has defended the proposal, stating that it would “enable and help inform identity verification, national security and public safety screening, and vetting, and related inspections.”

The agency’s document said that reviewing social media accounts was essential for “enhanced identity verification, vetting and national security screening.”

As the legal basis for this measure, USCIS cited Trump’s executive order, ‘Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats’.

This directive instructs federal agencies to strengthen vetting and screening procedures for immigrants. It mandates a reassessment of immigration and visa policies to identify security threats and reinstates some policies from Trump’s previous administration.

According to the notice, USCIS will collect social media handles, though not passwords, to verify applicants’ identities and assess any potential security or public safety risks.

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How the public reacted to the move

The agency is accepting public feedback on the proposal until May 5, however, most responses so far express strong opposition.

As of now, 143 comments have been submitted, with 29 specifically pointing out concerns over free speech violations, according to The Independent.

One anonymous commenter wrote, “Anything that the current administration doesn’t like means bad. Pure ideology means total destruction. This is a violation to the First Amendment.”

Another response warned of a “chilling effect on free speech,” stating, “The fear of government scrutiny of online expression will undoubtedly stifle free speech. This is particularly concerning for individuals from countries with different political climates, who may fear the misinterpretation of their online activity.”

A third person wrote, “This policy undermines the fundamental values that make America a beacon of freedom, including free speech, privacy, and human rights.”

The proposal comes after the Trump administration detained green card holder, Mahmoud Khalil , accusing him of being “pro-Hamas,” and deported Rasha Alawieh, a doctor at Brown University on an H-1B visa.

Meanwhile, the administration is also seeking to deport Indian scholar Badar Khan Suri , who works at Georgetown University. Officials claim he has connections to Hamas and has shared its propaganda online. However, a judge has temporarily blocked the government’s efforts to remove him.

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How many people could be affected?

The proposed policy is expected to impact more than 3.5 million (35 lakh) individuals, according to estimates provided by the agency.

A USCIS spokesperson told Newsweek that monitoring social media activity would improve fraud detection and help assess whether applicants pose any risks to national security or public safety.

Kathleen Bush-Joseph, a policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, told Newsweek, “These forms that people are filling out for these various benefit applications are extremely comprehensive and ask a number of detailed questions which often require the assistance of an attorney to fill out and many of those questions are used to determine who is not eligible for a benefit because of derogatory information.”

With inputs from agencies