On August 6, conservative outlet The Daily Signal, citing an internal memo, reported that the Trump administration’s earlier requirement for certain visa applicants to disclose their social media accounts for review has now been quietly expanded to include foreign media representatives.
According to the report, the State Department will now be checking the social media accounts of foreign journalists applying for work visas to the United States. At the same time, another category of visa applicants—cross-border workers from Canada and Mexico—will also be pulled into the screening net.
Reuters notes that both the White House and State Department official accounts shared the report’s link on social media platform X, but the State Department declined to confirm specifics, citing its policy of not commenting on “so-called internal documents.”
A State Department spokesperson claimed the department’s “cyber activity review” is meant to ensure applicants meet U.S. legal visa eligibility requirements.
Reuters pointed out that it’s still unclear when this alleged “new policy” would take effect. Just last month, the Department of Homeland Security tightened rules on the length of stay for foreign journalists working in the U.S., as well as for other visa holders including international students.
This move is part of a broader pattern since the Trump administration kicked off its second term in January 2025, where online speech is increasingly being weighed into immigration and visa decisions. It’s a trend that’s got civil liberties advocates worried about the state of free speech.
