00:00The Trump administration is now screening visa and green card applicants' social media for so-called anti-American activity.
00:08The move, announced Tuesday by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, is effective immediately.
00:15Officials are now required to closely monitor, quote,
00:19any involvement in anti-American or terrorist organizations while reviewing residency, work, and visa applications.
00:26The new guidelines state that the discovery of any anti-American activity will be an overwhelmingly negative factor in any discretionary analysis.
00:36The term is not clearly defined in the guidance, but the updated policy cites a Cold War-era immigration law
00:43that bans immigrants from becoming citizens if they are found to be part of a communist or anarchist organization.
00:49A U.S. CIS spokesperson says,
00:52Some immigration advocates have raised concerns about the vagueness of what defines anti-Americanism,
01:11arguing what some may consider anti-American, others may consider pro-American.
01:16The latest guidance is in addition to the agency's April order to screen applicants' social media for anti-Semitic activity.
01:24As part of the new directive, applicants seeking tourist or student visas must now disclose their social media handles
01:31and switch their profiles to public for review.
01:34Another change last week also requires those seeking to become naturalized citizens to show evidence of good moral character,
01:42including positive contributions to their community.
01:44On-time tax payments, maintained employment, and a good education.
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