Foreign tourists visiting the United States will soon be required to provide five years of social media history as part of President Donald Trump’s latest border and immigration crackdown.
Expanded Data Requirements
According to new guidance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, travelers from visa waiver countries—including the UK, Germany and France—must submit their social media data, email addresses from the last decade, and even information about their relatives. These requirements apply to those using the Visa Waiver Program and the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which currently costs $40 and grants two years of travel authorization.
Previous Policy Steps
In June, the State Department announced that certain visa applicants would need to make their social media profiles public. The latest move broadens those requirements, adding more scrutiny ahead of major international events in the U.S., including the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics.
A Broader Immigration Crackdown
Since taking office, Mr. Trump has enforced stricter entry rules, including orders for immigration authorities to screen visa and green card applicants for what the administration calls “anti-American activity.” Officials say such activity could be an “overwhelmingly negative factor” in immigration decisions. Similar social media checks already apply to some student and scholar visa applicants.
Recent Actions and Future Plans
Earlier this month, the administration froze all immigration applications from 19 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean, while also canceling citizenship ceremonies nationwide. According to reporting, the White House is considering extending its travel ban to more than 30 countries following the alleged shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C., by an Afghan national.
Calls for ‘Reverse Migration’
Mr. Trump has also urged what he described as “reverse migration,” stating on social media that he intends to “permanently pause migration from all Third World countries to allow the US system to recover.”
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