‘Chilling effect on free speech:’ Trump moves to monitor green card applicant’s social media activities

The United States President, Donald Trump, has unveiled a proposal mandating legally residing green card applicants to disclose their social media handles for review.

According to Associate Press (AP), this policy, widely criticized, aims to extend existing rules requiring visa applicants abroad to disclose social media details.

Under the new plan, individuals applying for permanent residency or asylum within the country would also be subjected to similar checks.

Civil rights groups and advocates have strongly condemned the proposal, warning that it could violate free speech and privacy rights.

Many worried it may deter individuals, especially from politically sensitive regions like Palestine and the Middle East, from expressing opinions online.

“This policy undermines core American values such as free speech, privacy, and human rights,” a critic noted.

Defending the proposal, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) stated that this policy is necessary for national security, identity verification, and public safety.

The agency insists that the policy aligns with President Trump’s executive order on protecting the US from foreign terrorist threats.

Citing recent cases, officials justified the policy using Mahmoud Khalil, labeled “pro-Hamas,” and Rasha Alawieh, deported over social media activity.

Rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), have raised concerns that the policy could disproportionately target Muslim and Arab applicants, particularly those who have voiced support for Palestinian rights.

Speaking on the matter, Robert McCaw of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said:

“This policy would disproportionately affect Muslim and Arab applicants seeking US citizenship who have spoken in favor of Palestinian human rights.”

The proposal has continued to generate backlash, with public feedback being collected until May 5.

Many respondents have strongly opposed the plan, citing fears of mass surveillance and government overreach.

Meanwhile, concerns are mounting over reports that the US government is expanding surveillance measures.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is allegedly working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to cross-check taxpayer records for immigration enforcement.

The development is seen as part of Trump’s immigration policy for restricting freedoms of speech under national security guise.

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