On August 6th, local time, the American conservative media outlet The Daily Signal cited an internal memo stating that a measure previously implemented by the Trump administration for various visa applicants—requiring applicants to publicly disclose their social media accounts for review—has now been expanded to include foreign media representatives.
According to reports, the United States Department of State will review the social media accounts of foreign journalists applying for work visas in the US. At the same time, applicants for other types of visas for workers from Canada and Mexico will also be subject to review.
According to Reuters, both official accounts of the White House and the United States Department of State shared links to this report on the social media platform X. However, the United States Department of State refused to confirm the specifics of the report, citing its policy guidelines prohibiting comments on so-called 'internal documents'.
U.S. Department of State spokesperson claimed that their so-called "internet activity review" aims to ensure applicants meet the visa qualifications set by U.S. law.
Reuters pointed out that it is still unclear when this allegedly 'new policy' will take effect. Last month, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security tightened regulations regarding the stay periods of foreign journalists working in the U.S., as well as other visa holders including foreign students.
This move is also a continuation of a series of measures taken by the Trump administration since its second term began in January 2025, aiming to use online remarks as a factor in immigration and visa decisions. These measures have raised concerns among “civil liberties advocates” regarding issues related to “free speech.”
