WASHINGTON: The Trump administration has announced new measures to tighten vetting procedures for H-1B visa applicants, focusing on applicants’ involvement in activities related to censorship and free speech.
An internal State Department memo states that individuals engaged in “censorship” or “attempted censorship” of protected expression in the U.S. should be considered ineligible for the visa.
H-1B visas enable U.S. companies to hire highly skilled foreign workers, and are widely used by the technology industry, which draws talent heavily from India, China, and other countries. Many leaders in the tech sector supported Donald Trump during the recent presidential election, underscoring the stakes of any policy shift.
According to an internal State Department cable dated Dec. 2, consular officers are now required to examine the résumés and LinkedIn profiles of H-1B applicants—as well as accompanying family members—to identify past involvement in fields such as content moderation, misinformation and disinformation review, fact-checking, online safety, and related functions.
“If you discover information indicating that an applicant engaged in or assisted with censorship or attempts to censor protected speech in the United States, you should pursue an ineligibility finding” under a specified section of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the memo instructs.
The previously unreported guidance emphasizes that while the policy technically applies to all visa categories, additional attention should be paid to H-1B applicants, who often work in technology, social media, and financial services companies that the administration accuses of suppressing lawful expression.
“You must conduct a comprehensive review of their work history to ensure they were not involved in such activities,” the cable states. The directive applies to both first-time applicants and those seeking visa renewals.
A State Department spokesperson said, “We do not support bringing individuals to the United States to serve as censors silencing Americans,” while declining to comment on what the official referred to as “allegedly leaked documents.” The spokesperson noted that the President has previously faced restrictions on his own social media accounts and “does not want other Americans to endure similar treatment.”
The administration has made protection of free speech—especially what it describes as the suppression of conservative viewpoints online a central theme of its foreign policy.
U.S. officials have repeatedly criticized European governments, including in Germany, France, and Romania, accusing them of using disinformation laws to stifle right-leaning political expression such as opposition to immigration policies.
