Trump bans green cards for anti-American, anti-Semitic, and pro-Palestine crowds
March in support of Palestine in the US (Photo: Twitter/yaseenizeddeen1)
From now on, criticism of Israel will close the path to obtaining green cards, as US President Donald Trump has intensified the screening of migrants. Critical posts about Israel or participation in pro-Palestinian protests could become an official reason for denial of permanent residency, reports The New York Times.
A new approach to antisemitism is evident in the US Department of Homeland Security's internal training materials, which the NYT reviewed. According to the new guidelines, immigration officers must assess applicants' statements as overwhelmingly negative factors.
Under close scrutiny are:
- Participation in pro-Palestinian rallies on university campuses;
- Posts on Instagram or X (Twitter) criticizing Israel's actions;
- Desecration of the American flag.
The documents demonstrate how meticulously the White House is executing the directive to identify anti-American and anti-Semitic views. These training materials have not been previously reported.
Social media under the scrutiny of officers
The training materials cite as an example of questionable behavior a post with the text: "Stop Israeli Terror in Palestine." The image accompanying such a post typically features a crossed-out Israeli flag. US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) employees received these instructions last month.
Previously, this agency served as the gateway for legal migrants. Now it is turning into another cog in the deportation machinery.
The new rules have already taken effect, the article claims. The number of approved green cards in recent months has dropped by more than half.
If you hate America, leave
The official Washington position is unwavering in its support for the country, and the administration believes it is protecting national interests.
Agency Director Joseph Edlow told Congress back in February:
"There is no room in America for aliens who espouse anti-American ideologies or support terrorist organizations."
This view was echoed by USCIS spokesman Zach Kahler:
"If you hate America, you have no business demanding to live in America."
The White House is convinced that this is not a matter of free speech. Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson emphasized that the policy is aimed at protecting American institutions, citizen security, national security, and the freedoms of the US.
New defenders of America
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has already begun revoking activists' visas. A student who wrote a column criticizing his university for its response to pro-Palestinian demands has come under fire.
The changes have even affected job titles. At USCIS, the people reviewing applications are now called not immigration services officers, but homeland defenders. The slogan of the new job postings is clear: "Protect your homeland and defend your culture."
What critics say
Human rights advocates believe the Trump administration is deliberately conflating criticism of the Israeli government with antisemitism. Amanda Baran, who held a senior position at the agency during Joe Biden's tenure, criticized this approach:
"Basing green card decisions on ideological screenings is fundamentally un-American and should have no place in a country built on the promise of free expression."
Previously, officers focused only on calls to violence. Ideology was a factor only in cases of membership in communist or totalitarian parties.
Now the framework has expanded, and desecration of the US flag is considered an overwhelmingly negative factor. This is despite the Supreme Court having previously recognized flag burning as a form of political expression.
Other immigration news
The popularity of the US as a second homeland has significantly declined during Trump's tenure. A global Gallup study showed that only 15% of respondents worldwide expressed interest in migrating to the US. That's 9 points lower than during 2007-2009, when the figure was 24%.
The number of deportations in the EU has increased significantly. Last year, over 491,000 people were subject to repatriation, and about 135,000 of them were deported — a record. However, in Europe, they believe this record is insufficient, and measures need to be tightened.
Meanwhile, more and more European countries are offering money for migrants to return home. We have already published a list of the conditions of the EU countries' offers.
