Feds to screen social media of migrants, foreign students for antisemitic activity

WASHINGTON - The Department of Homeland Security said it will now take into account any antisemitic social media posts and the physical harassment of Jewish individuals and will deny immigration benefits to non-U.S. citizens. 

Officials will consider any social media posts that indicate a non-U.S. citizen was "endorsing, espousing, promoting, or supporting antisemitic terrorism, antisemitic terrorist organizations, or other antisemitic activity."

Timeline:

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said the policy will immediately take effect for migrants and foreign citizens. 

RELATED: Migrants who used Biden-era CBP One app told to leave US 'immediately'

The backstory:

The department said the measure is consistent with President Donald Trump's executive order, " Combatting Anti-Semitism, Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism."

What they're saying:

"DHS will enforce all relevant immigration laws to the maximum degree, to protect the homeland from extremists and terrorist aliens, including those who support antisemitic terrorism, violent antisemitic ideologies and antisemitic terrorist organizations uch as Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, or Ansar Allah aka: "the Houthis," a statement read. 

Social media icon applications from WhatsApp, Facebook, and TikTok, alongside others, are seen on a mobile phone in this photo illustration in Brussels, Belgium, on March 16, 2025. (Photo by Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

"There is no room in the United States for the rest of the world’s terrorist sympathizers, and we are under no obligation to admit them or let them stay here," DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. "Sec. Noem has made it clear that anyone who thinks they can come to America and hide behind the First Amendment to advocate for anti-Semitic violence and terrorism – think again. You are not welcome here."

Trump's stance on antisemitism 

Dig deeper:

On the campaign trail, Trump promised to cut federal money to colleges that fail to stop antisemitism and to deport foreign students who were at pro-Palestinian demonstrations on U.S. campuses. In the first weeks of his second term, he ordered federal agencies to use "all available and appropriate legal tools" to end campus antisemitism, including the removal of foreign students and staff deemed security risks.

Columbia was one of five colleges that came under new federal antisemitism investigations after Trump’s order, and it’s one of 10 being visited by a task force in response to allegations that the colleges have failed to protect Jewish students.

Others under investigation include the University of California, Berkeley; the University of Minnesota; Northwestern University; and Portland State University.

Under President Joe Biden, the Education Department opened more than 100 investigations into allegations of antisemitism and Islamophobia in the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and a wave of pro-Palestinian protests. Some schools rushed to reach resolution agreements before Biden left office, provoking an outcry from Republicans who said the Democrat was letting schools off the hook.