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Today's Paper | March 13, 2026

Published 18 Apr, 2025 01:06pm

Trump administration orders Gaza-linked social media vetting for visa applicants

The Donald Trump administration has ordered a social media vetting for all US visa applicants who have been to the Gaza Strip on or after January 1, 2007, in the latest push to tighten screening of foreign travellers, Reuters reports.

If the review of an applicant’s social media uncovers “potential derogatory information” relating to security issues, then a security advisory opinion will be a submitted which is an interagency investigation to determine if a visa applicant poses a national security risk to the United States.

Order is to conduct a social media vetting for all immigrant and non-immigrant visas, including non-governmental organisation workers as well as individuals who have been in the Palestinian enclave for any length of time in an official or diplomatic capacity.

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