Guidance Regarding the Use of Social Media

Last week, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)  issued a news release, DHS to Begin Screening Aliens’ Social Media Activity for Antisemitism, which announced:

“Under this guidance, USCIS will consider social media content that indicates a [foreign national] endorsing, espousing, promoting, or supporting antisemitic terrorism, antisemitic terrorist organizations, or other antisemitic activity as a negative factor in any USCIS discretionary analysis when adjudicating immigration benefit requests. This guidance is effective immediately.” Please refer to the full text of the statement for more information.

Any information identified under this directive will be used as grounds for denying immigration benefits. Examples of immigration benefits that USCIS processes include employment authorization for F-1 students (e.g. OPT, STEM OPT), employment-based petitions (H-1B, TN, O-1, E-3), and J-2 Employment Authorization, among other immigration-related matters. 

We encourage international community members to be mindful of their digital footprint and recognize its potential impact on their immigration status, as outlined by updated guidance from USCIS. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your Duke Visa Services Liaison, DISC Staff member, or Dr. Kevin D’Arco or more information. Duke Visa Services and the Duke International Student Center will continue to monitor immigration updates and communicate them to you as new information becomes available.