U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will consider if immigration benefits applicants hold any Anti-American views, per an internal memo. The decision coincides with the move to consider ‘good moral character’ during the citizenship vetting process. The agency also stated it will require social media vetting for additional immigration requests.

The policy change hopes to identify individuals who hold what the government considers anti-American views. Immigration agents will also consider if applicants have expressed support for groups the government considers to be terrorist organizations. If found to hold such views, the request will be negatively impacted.

The new policy defines anti-American views and actions under those listed in the Immigration and Nationality Act. The change gives immigration agents permission to make decisions based on less objectively defined factors. For example, immigration agents could interpret expressing support for Iran as an endorsement of the ruling government’s anti-American views, even if it was only mean to be an expression of sympathy towards the Iranian people. Individuals may have a harder time receiving immigration benefits, especially given the increase in processing time that comes with agents considering cases individually. USCIS has not disclosed when they’ll implement the new policy.

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