The Trump administration has circulated internal guidance to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officers instructing them to escalate and potentially deny green card applications from immigrants who express certain political views, according to training materials reviewed by The New York Times. The materials, distributed last month, identify criticism of Israel, participation in pro-Palestine protests and acts such as flag desecration as examples that could trigger heightened scrutiny or rejection of lawful permanent residency.
The guidance sets out concrete scenarios that adjudicators should flag for supervisory review. One cited example in the materials is a social media post reading “Stop Israeli Terror in Palestine” accompanied by a crossed‑out Israeli flag. Another example noted is holding a sign that advocates the overthrow of the U.S. government. Officers are instructed to refer any case involving what the documents describe as “potential Anti‑American and/or antisemitic conduct or ideology” to supervisors and the agency’s general counsel for further evaluation.
USCIS has publicly defended the approach. In a statement to People, USCIS spokesman Zach Kahler said, “If you hate America, you have no business demanding to live in America,” and added that “citizenship or a green card are both privileges reserved for individuals who respect and uphold the principles upon which this nation is founded,” arguing it is reasonable to evaluate applicants based on their words and actions. The new guidance builds on an August announcement that USCIS would revise how it evaluates requests for immigration benefits, a move officials said was intended to ensure that public benefits are reserved for those who do not promote “anti‑American ideologies.”
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The new internal rules come amid a broader enforcement posture from the administration toward speech and social media activity by foreign nationals. The State Department and other agencies have recently taken actions including revoking visas tied to pro‑Palestine activism, and reports say the government has considered requiring multi‑year social media histories from tourist visa applicants from certain countries. Former President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed a tougher line on screening social media and imposing more stringent checks on applicants, officials and news reports indicate.
Immigration experts and civil liberties advocates have raised alarm in past coverage about the potential chilling effect of tying protected political expression to immigration eligibility, and the guidance amplifies questions about where lines will be drawn in practice. The training documents’ examples suggest adjudicators will be asked to distinguish between protected speech and behavior the agency deems disqualifying, but the materials reviewed did not provide a full framework for those determinations.
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The documents were first detailed in The New York Times’ review, and USCIS’ statements to media outlets have signaled the agency views the measures as part of routine adjudication criteria. The administration has not released the full guidance publicly; implementation details and how broadly the new grounds will be applied remain unclear.
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