How Trump Govt's New Proposed Social Media Policy May Impact Indian Green Card Holders

Washington: The US administration has been strict on illegal immigrants residing in the country ever since Donald Trump assumed office under his second term at the White House.

As he continues to urge his administration to closely monitor immigrants, a new proposed social media policy may require green card holders in the country to surrender their social media handles to the government.

Currently, visa applicants are already required to provide details of their social media handles to the government. However, if this proposal is implemented, all legal immigrants in the country and green card holders and asylum seekers looking for permanent residency may be asked to surrender their social media accounts.

Visa applicants may need to share their social media account details with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

How Trump’s proposed social media policy impact green card holders?

• Surrendering social media accounts to the government would mean increased scrutiny. Consequently, if legal immigrants voice their opinions against the ruling administration, participate in protests—especially those opposing the government—or engage in social activities that could challenge law and order, the government may deny them permanent residency.
• This new social media policy could discourage Indians living in the United States from speaking out, particularly those actively involved in US politics.
• The Trump administration stated that scrutinising immigrants' social media accounts is essential for enhanced identity verification, vetting, and national security screening.
• The move is expected to impact green card holders and asylum seekers planning to apply for permanent residency.

According to a notice issued by the Trump administration on March 5, the USCIS identified the need to collect social media identifiers – 'handles' – and associated platform names from applicants to aid identity verification, national security, public safety screening, vetting, and related inspections.

In the initial weeks of his second term, US President Donald Trump took a firm stance on illegal immigrants, deporting migrants who had crossed borders illegally into the United States.

The Trump administration deported thousands of illegal immigrants, including Indians, back to their respective countries, as Trump fulfilled  his election promise.

After assuming office on January 20, newly elected US President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to take action against illegal migrants, who according to Trump claimed were contributing to the rising crime rate in the country.