Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, Social Media, Republicans
Critics have issued scathing responses to the Trump administration’s new scheme to vet the social media profiles of US-based immigrants, with some claiming the policy ‘undermines the fundamental values that make America a beacon of freedom’.
On President Donald Trump’s first day of his second term in office, he signed an Executive Order (E.O.) entitled ‘Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats’.
The E.O. states that the Republicans wants to protect United States citizens from a variety of attacks, including those from people who threaten national security and ‘espouse hateful ideology’.
It also outlined that the country needed to be more ‘vigilant during the visa-issuance process’ to simultaneously protect Americans’ livelihoods and the country’s national interests.
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In Section Two of the E.O., the 78-year-old revealed a ‘rigorous’ Green Card vetting and screening process would be set up across agencies to the ‘maximum degree possible’.
If you’re in the US and you’re applying for a Green Card, then you need to file an immigration petition form and Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
You also need to demonstrate your eligibility for a Permanent Resident Card by gathering your passport, proof of relationships, medical examinations, and police and court records.
If the new policy comes into effect, then you will also have to hand over your social media identities. AKA handles and associated social media platform names.
According to a regulation document, posted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on March 5, this information will: “enable and help inform identity verification, national security and public safety screening, and vetting, and related inspections.”
“This data will be collected from certain populations of individuals on applications for immigration-related benefits and is necessary for the enhanced identity verification, vetting and national security screening, and inspection conducted by USCIS and required under the E.O,” the report reads.
It’s also stated that data extracted from social media accounts will help validate an applicant’s identity, determining whether ‘such grant of a benefit poses a security or public-safety threat to the United States’.
It should be noted that visa applicants living outside of the US already have to share their social media handles with the USCIS.
Therefore Trump’s proposal is an expansion of the policy, affecting those applying for permanent residency or seeking asylum from the US.
Following the USCIS’s claims that vetting social media accounts is necessary for ‘enhanced identity verification, vetting and national security screening’, critics have been having their say.
“100% PURE DICTATORSHIP. Congratulations USA, you're now part of the "Axis of Evil,” one Redditor commented.
“Chilling Effect on Free Speech: The fear of government scrutiny of online expression will undoubtedly stifle free speech,” another comment read, as per The Independent. “This is particularly concerning for individuals from countries with different political climates, who may fear the misinterpretation of their online activity.”
Someone else replied: “Tons of people totally downplayed how the election outcome might affect life in America. This is why you study history - so you can avoid experiencing the s**t yourself.”
“This policy undermines the fundamental values that make America a beacon of freedom, including free speech, privacy, and human rights,” another argued.
Robert McCaw, director of government affairs at the Council on American-Islamic Relations has slammed Trump after hearing the 47th President of the United States wants immigrants to fork over their social media profiles.
“This policy would disparately impact Muslim and Arab applicants seeking U.S. citizenship that have voiced support for Palestinian human rights,” he told The Intercept. “Collecting the social media identifiers of any potential green card applicants or citizens is the means to silencing their lawful speech.”
The USCIS is continuing to collect comments on the proposal up until May 5.
