U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced plans to collect social media identifiers from individuals applying for immigration-related benefits, including naturalization and green card applications. The measure is part of an effort to enhance identity verification and national security screening processes.
The initiative was outlined in a 60-day notice published in the Federal Register in which USCIS stated that the collection of social media data is necessary to comply with Executive Order 14161 signed on January 20, 2025:
This collection of information is necessary to comply with section 2 of the Executive order (E.O.) entitled 'Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats', which directs implementation of uniform vetting standards and requires the collection of all information necessary for a rigorous vetting and screening of all grounds of inadmissibility or bases for the denial of immigration-related benefits"
The notice goes on to state that USCIS identified the need to collect social media identifiers and associated social media platforms from applicants to "enable and help inform identity verification, national security and public safety screening, and vetting, and related inspections."
The requirement will apply to forms such as the N-400 (Application for Naturalization), I-131 (Application for Travel Document), and I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status), among others.
USCIS estimates that the additional time burden for applicants will be minimal, averaging five minutes per application. With an estimated 3.57 million respondents, the total annual public burden is projected at approximately 285,999 hours.
The notice also states that no additional costs to the public are anticipated beyond those already accounted for in existing immigration application processes. However, USCIS warns that all submitted comments will be publicly posted without alteration, including any personal information provided, and advises respondents to limit sensitive details in their submissions.
During a recent sit-down with The Latin Times, former USCIS official with more than 20 years of experience Don Riding evaluated some of Trump's immigration-related executive orders, expressing agreement with most of them, except for one notable exception: the end to birthright citizenship:
"If birthright citizenship ends, some parents might lie about their birthplace to secure citizenship for their child. This would create rampant fraud. Would we have to station an immigration officer at every hospital to verify parents' birthplaces? The logistical nightmare would be enormous"
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