Donald Trump’s administration has proposed new travel rules requiring tourists from 42 countries to submit five years of social media history before entering the United States.
In a notice issued by the Federal Register on Wednesday, December 10, the proposal is part of a broader plan to overhaul the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), the online system used by citizens of visa-waiver countries to travel to the US for tourism or business.
“The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA),” read the notice.
Under the new requirements, applicants would also need to provide additional personal details, including information about their relatives and all email addresses used over the past 10 years.
Trump to Demand 5 Years of Social Media History From 42 Countries Including Allies
The changes would affect citizens of 42 countries currently participating in the Visa Waiver Program, including major US allies such as the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea. These travelers do not need visas but must complete the ESTA process before entry.
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The full list of affected countries includes Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.
According to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), these new plans aim to enforce President Trump’s executive order to deny entry to foreigners who may pose a threat to national security or public safety.
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Additionally, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has instructed officials to check the social media histories of many immigrants, looking for opinions or activities deemed anti-American.
Immigrants seeking U.S. citizenship will also be evaluated for their good moral character. Citizens of these 42 countries can currently visit the U.S. for up to 90 days without a visa but must still apply online through ESTA.
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Under the new Trump proposal, the ESTA system will be overhauled and transformed into a mobile-only process, according to Customs and Border Protection.
The proposal comes days after Trump, through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an immediate freeze on all pending asylum applications and a re-evaluation of immigration benefits for individuals from 19 countries identified as “high-risk” under a recent presidential directive.
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