State Dept Reportedly Orders Increased Vetting of H-1B Applicants Who Work in 'Censorship'

Earlier this week, the Trump administration reportedly ordered increased vetting for H-1B visa applicants via an internal State Department memo that said those involved in the "censorship" of free speech should be considered for rejection.

The Memo: The memo, obtained by Reuters (Center), reportedly said, "If you uncover evidence an applicant was responsible for, or complicit in, censorship or attempted censorship of protected expression in the United States, you should pursue a finding that the applicant is ineligible." The heightened review comes for H-1B applicants because the department says they often work in "social media or financial services companies involved in the suppression of protected expression." It directed staff to "thoroughly explore their employment histories to ensure no participation in such activities."

Public Quote: A State Department spokesperson told Reuters the department does not comment on "allegedly leaked documents." Despite that, the spokesperson said, "We do not support aliens coming to the United States to work as censors muzzling Americans. In the past, the President himself was the victim of this kind of abuse when social media companies locked his accounts. He does not want other Americans to suffer this way. Allowing foreigners to lead this type of censorship would both insult and injure the American people."

For Context: Earlier this week, it was also reported that H-1B visa applicants should set their social media profiles to public and have them reviewed by immigration authorities. Student visa applicants are subject to similar protocols that began in June. H-1B visas have divided President Trump's base this year, with some prominent voices being in favor of them and others against.

How The Media Covered It: An analysis from The Washington Post (Lean Left bias) described the move as an attempt to make immigration more difficult. Author Danielle Abril wrote, "Trump has taken a dim view of online content moderation since his first term, when major social networks applied fact-checks and warning labels to his posts about the 2020 election." Andrew Stuttaford of National Review (Right) mentioned the €120 million fine the European Union levied on X this week, and said this news, "if accurately reported, is a welcome beginning, but it should only be a beginning." Stuttaford argued it should extend to visa types and travel beyond H-1B cases, considering attempts by the UK and EU "to force US social media companies to wall off large areas of American free speech from their residents' eyes."

Written by the AllSides staff (of humans). Learn more. Support our mission.