WASHINGTON — Foreign nationals applying for U.S. visas, including international journalists and select visitors from neighboring Canada and Mexico, may soon be required to set their social media accounts to "public" as part of an expanded screening measure by the Trump administration.
The heightened scrutiny was highlighted on Thursday after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt amplified a report by The Daily Signal, which cited an internal State Department memorandum detailing the proposed policy shift. Under the guidelines, applicants across expanded visa categories would be mandated to switch their social media privacy settings to "public" or "open" to allow federal officials full visibility into their online activities.
Responding to queries regarding the internal memo, a State Department spokesperson confirmed that screening protocols remain under active review to align with federal security standards.
"The department is constantly reviewing and evaluating screening and vetting procedures worldwide to ensure that our visa process upholds the highest standards for U.S. national security and public safety," the spokesperson said in a statement. "Online presence vetting is about applicants demonstrating their eligibility to receive a visa under U.S. law and ensuring that no individual poses a risk to the safety and security of the United States."
While the U.S. government already mandates social media account disclosures for several non-immigrant categories, such as international student visa applicants, the proposed policy significantly broadens the net. Foreign media representatives and specific traveler classifications from Mexico and Canada would now fall under the expanded requirement.
The move marks another chapter in President Donald Trump’s sweeping overhaul of U.S. immigration and entry policies. Since returning to office, the administration has taken aggressive steps to curtail undocumented immigration, enforce border controls, and tighten restrictions on foreign visitors. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently underscored the administration's firm stance, stating plainly that "a visa is a privilege, not a right."
This latest vetting expansion complements recent regulatory adjustments targeting long-term foreign stays. Rules finalized by the State Department last month impose stricter duration limits on foreign exchange students and journalists. Under guidelines slated for implementation as early as September, international student visas will be capped at a maximum of four years per degree program, while foreign journalists will face initial stay limits of 240 days, with the option to apply for periodic extensions.
