The Trump administration proposed that travelers from 42 visa-waived countries, including the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia and most countries in Europe, hand over their full social media history for the past five years.
In addition, they must provide telephone numbers, emails and family information when requesting the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) to enter the United States.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published the measure in the Federal Register and opened a comment period until February 9.
According to cnnUntil now, the question about social networks was optional on the ESTA form, used for stays of less than 90 days.
Instead, the new version would make it mandatory and add detailed questions about contacts and family members during the last five years, according to the official proposal.
According to CBP, the information will help detect security risks. In addition, it points out that those who do not have accounts or do not respond could face greater scrutiny, although the agency assures that the absence of profiles will not be interpreted negatively.
The measure aligns with the immigration tightening promoted by Trump since his return to power, which includes exhaustive social media reviews for student visas and general restrictions on legal and non-legal entry.
The change would affect millions of annual tourists from countries such as Germany, France, Spain, Italy, South Korea or New Zealand.
However, it is not yet clear whether the lack of historical data would automatically block authorization or only delay the process, while the Department of Homeland Security has not responded to requests for comment on the final implementation, according to cnn.
The measure closes the entry of international visitors to the United States much more, now that tourism has fallen by nearly 7% year-on-year, the first drop since the coronavirus pandemic, he points out. The Vanguard.
The impact is already felt. Last July recorded a 3.1% drop in foreign visitors, the fifth consecutive drop, with pronounced drops from Canada (26% less in air travel), China (53% below pre-pandemic) and India (18% in students).
Cited by Infobaethe US Travel Association and the World Travel & Tourism Council attribute the decline to high fees, stricter border inspections and official rhetoric that generates perceptions of hostility.
“Persecution” of Cubans in the US due to immigration policies
In the midst of the immigration storm, the Government of Cuba criticized President Donald Trump’s policy on Monday and assured that its nationals residing in that country “suffer persecution” and face “the risk” of deportation.
“Cubans who live in the United States suffer (…) the fear instilled by the current immigration policy of the Government of that country,” wrote the Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguezin your X social network account.
Cuba assures that its nationals in the US “suffer persecution” due to immigration policies
The Trump Administration announced on December 2 the suspension of all immigration applications submitted by citizens of 19 countries included in a travel ban, including Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti and Somalia.
The decision affects permanent residence processes, naturalization, asylum, green card review and other immigration procedures supervised by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and has resulted in cancellations of interviews and naturalization ceremonies.
The Republican Administration ordered a rigorous review of the green cards of the 19 countries mentioned and also announced cuts in refundable tax benefits, such as the child credit or the earned income credit, arguing that these benefits are given to immigrants who receive more than they contribute, according to the White House.
