US to vet social media of foreign journalists applying for visas, report says

The US State Department plans to scrutinize the social media presence of foreign journalists seeking visas, according to a report in The Daily Signal. This move, cited in an internal memo, expands the administration's initiative to screen applicants for various visa types. Canadian and Mexican workers will also be included in this examination.

While the State Department has not officially confirmed these details, citing a policy against commenting on "purported internal documents", it maintains that this "online presence vetting" is employed to ascertain applicants' eligibility under US law and to ensure they do not pose a threat to national security, public safety, or national interests.

Officers use diverse methods to make informed decisions, safeguarding against fraud and ensuring a comprehensive review of applicants. The implementation date for this new policy remains unclear. Concurrently, the Department of Homeland Security has recently tightened regulations regarding the duration foreign journalists and other visa holders, including students, can stay in the US.

This policy expansion follows a series of steps initiated by President Donald Trump’s administration since his second-term commencement in January 2025. These measures have sparked concerns among civil liberties advocates regarding freedom of speech. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services has pledged to review the social media posts of immigrants and visa applicants, scrutinizing for antisemitic content and "anti-Americanism".

The administration's decision to cancel visas for foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian activism, in some instances leading to deportation attempts, further underscores this trend. In October 2025, the State Department revoked visas for six foreign nationals over comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, asserting they would continue identifying such visa holders suspected of celebrating his death.