Five Years of Social Media History, Phone Numbers and Family Data Now Mandatory for Foreign Tourists–Including Those From Visa-Free Countries–to U.S.
The Trump administration announced Tuesday that foreign tourists will be required to submit five years of social media history before entering the United States, marking a significant expansion of border security protocols.
Customs and Border Protection published the mandatory notice in the Federal Register on Tuesday.
The new requirement applies to all foreign nationals entering the country, including visitors from nations that currently enjoy visa-free travel privileges such as the United Kingdom and Germany.
The policy represents the latest measure in heightened immigration scrutiny following last week’s announcement of an immigration freeze affecting 19 countries.
Administration officials characterized the move as necessary for national security.
Under the new regulations, travelers must provide comprehensive digital footprints spanning the past five years.
The requirement extends beyond social media accounts to include email addresses, phone numbers and detailed information about family members.
The announcement comes as the United States prepares to host major international sporting events. The 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics are expected to bring hundreds of thousands of foreign visitors to American soil.
Customs and Border Protection stated that the American public will have a 60-day period to submit comments on the proposed regulations.
This development follows a June directive from the State Department requiring travelers to make their social media profiles publicly accessible, per the Daily Mail.
In August, the Trump administration directed immigration services to examine social media accounts of visa and green card applicants for content deemed anti-American.
The latest policy extends these screening measures to temporary visitors and tourists.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services now instructs officers to evaluate whether applicants have endorsed, promoted, supported, or espoused anti-American, terrorist, or antisemitic views.
Matthew Tragesser, USCIS spokesman, stated the policy clearly. “America’s benefits should not be given to those who despise the country and promote anti-American ideologies,” he said.
“Immigration benefits—including to live and work in the United States—remain a privilege, not a right. If you hate America, don’t try to live in America. It’s that simple.”
The administration has not provided specific criteria defining anti-Americanism.
The Daily Mail noted that Elizabeth Jacobs, director of regulatory affairs and policy at the Center for Immigration Studies, explained the government’s approach.
“The message is that the U.S. and immigration agencies are going to be less tolerant of anti-Americanism or antisemitism when making immigration decisions,” she said Tuesday.
Jacobs clarified that while officers receive guidance on behaviors and practices to consider, they retain discretionary authority.
“The agency cannot tell officers that they have to deny – just to consider it as a negative discretion,” she noted.
Jane Lilly Lopez, associate professor of sociology at Brigham Young University, expressed concerns about potential subjectivity.
“For me, the really big story is they are opening the door for stereotypes and prejudice and implicit bias to take the wheel in these decisions. That’s really worrisome,” she said.
The immigration freeze announced earlier this month pauses all immigration applications from 19 countries. Trump canceled citizenship ceremonies nationwide, citing national security and public safety concerns.
According to the New York Times, the freeze could impact more than 1.5 million people with pending asylum applications and over 50,000 individuals who received asylum grants during the Biden administration.
The New York Post reports Trump is considering expanding the travel ban to more than 30 countries.
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