- US diplomats were asked to review the LinkedIn profiles of H-1B visa applicants.
- H-1B visa applicants are ineligible if they are found to be engaging in “censorship.”
- The new vetting requirements apply to both new and returning applicants.
WASHINGTON: The Trump administration has ordered increased vetting of applicants for H-1B visas for high-skilled workers, with anyone involved in “censorship” of free speech being considered for rejection, according to a State Department cable seen by Reuters.
H-1B visas are crucial for American tech companies, which hire heavily in countries like India and China. Many of the leaders of those companies supported Trump in the last presidential election.
The cable, sent to all US missions on December 2, directs US consular officials to review the resumes or LinkedIn profiles of H-1B applicants – and family members who would travel with them – to see if they have worked in areas including activities such as disinformation, disinformation, content moderation, fact-checking, compliance and online security, among others.
“If you discover evidence that an applicant was responsible for or complicit in censorship or attempted censorship of protected expression in the United States, you should seek a finding that the applicant is ineligible,” according to a specific section of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the cable said.
Enhanced screening for H-1B visas, which allow U.S. employers to hire foreign workers in specialized fields, had not previously been reported.
The cable said all visa applicants were subject to this policy, but called for stricter review for H-1B applicants, given that they frequently worked in the technology sector, including at social media or financial services companies involved in the suppression of protected speech.
“You should thoroughly explore their employment histories to ensure they do not engage in such activities,” the cable said.
The new vetting requirements apply to both new and returning applicants.
The Trump administration has made free speech, particularly what it sees as the suppression of conservative voices online, a focus of its foreign policy.
Officials have repeatedly intervened in European politics to denounce what they say is the repression of right-wing politicians, including in Romania, Germany and France, accusing European authorities of censoring views such as criticism of immigration in the name of countering disinformation.
In May, Rubio threatened to ban visas for people who censor American speech, including on social media, and suggested the policy could target foreign officials who regulate American technology companies.
The Trump administration has already significantly tightened its vetting of student visa applicants, ordering U.S. consular officials to review any social media posts that may be hostile toward the United States.
As part of his sweeping crackdown on immigration, Trump imposed new fees on H-1B visas in September.
Trump and his Republican allies have repeatedly accused former Democratic President Joe Biden's administration of encouraging the suppression of free speech on online platforms, claims that have focused on efforts to curb false claims about vaccines and the election.
