New US Policy To Vet Social Media of Gaza-Linked Foreign Nationals
The Trump administration has mandated social media vetting for all US visa applicants who have visited the Gaza Strip since January 1, 2007, according to an internal State Department cable obtained by Reuters. The directive, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on April 17, marks the latest in a series of measures aimed at tightening scrutiny of foreign nationals amid ongoing tensions over the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The order applies to both immigrant and non-immigrant visas and includes individuals who traveled to Gaza for official or diplomatic purposes, as well as humanitarian workers and NGO personnel. According to the cable, consular officers are instructed to conduct comprehensive reviews of social media activity and submit a Security Advisory Opinion (SAO) if any “derogatory information relating to security issues” is found.
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“If the review of social media results uncovers potential derogatory information relating to security issues, then a SAO must be submitted,” the cable stated.
This new directive is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to revoke or block visas for individuals whose actions are seen as threatening to US foreign policy—particularly those critical of Israel or sympathetic to Palestinians. In recent months, the administration has rescinded hundreds of visas, including some held by lawful permanent residents, under a 1952 law allowing for visa revocation on foreign policy grounds.
