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The United States government has proposed a new policy that would expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to analyze the social media of immigrants applying for immigration benefits such as citizenship, permanent residency (green card), asylum, or other authorizations.
The initiative, submitted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), was officially published in the Federal Register on March 5 and is currently in a public comment period, which will remain open until May 5.
The proposal aims to enhance security controls by collecting social media identifiers and the names of the platforms used by applicants.
It is part of the implementation of the executive order "Protecting the United States Against Foreign Terrorists and Other Threats to National and Public Security," signed by President Donald Trump.
Although applicants would not be required to provide passwords, they would have to declare their accounts or aliases on platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, or LinkedIn, as part of the identity verification and risk assessment process.
According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the measure would affect approximately 3.6 million people each year, aiming to prevent fraud, detect inconsistencies in applications, and strengthen national security.
However, the initiative has drawn criticism from civil rights organizations, such as the Brennan Center for Justice, due to its implications for privacy and freedom of expression.
"Using social media to make high-impact immigration decisions is concerning, especially if it relies on AI tools that still make mistakes," warned Rachel Levinson-Waldman, director of the National Security and Liberties program at the center, according to AP, as cited by Florida Politics.
Leon Rodríguez, former director of USCIS, also expressed his reservations: “While AI can assist as a tool for initial filtering, it cannot replace the judgment of a trained officer. Furthermore, it might overlook relevant content or misinterpret ambiguous posts.”
The digital surveillance of immigrants on social media is not new. Under the Obama administration, in 2014, the first pilot programs began, the cited news portal reported.
In 2019, the State Department began requiring social media identifiers from nearly all foreign nationals applying for a visa to enter the country.
Rights advocacy groups fear that the automation of these evaluations could lead to unfair or discriminatory decisions and may cause self-censorship within vulnerable communities, such as asylum seekers fleeing political persecution.
Although the U.S. government defends the measure as part of its security strategy, concerns about the extent of surveillance, the lack of transparency in the use of AI, and the respect for fundamental rights continue to grow among experts and activists.
Recently, the administration of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, issued a strong warning to migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, whose humanitarian permits (parole) were revoked by an order from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The White House spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, urged migrants from those nationalities who remain unprotected to self-deport, using the CBP Home application, the digital tool launched by the Trump administration that allows immigrants in irregular situations to notify their intention to voluntarily leave the country.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Use of AI to Analyze Social Media of Migrant Applicants in the U.S.
What does the U.S. government aim to achieve by using AI to analyze social media?
The U.S. government is seeking to strengthen security controls by analyzing the social media of applicants for immigration benefits, such as citizenship, permanent residency, and asylum. This is done to prevent fraud, detect inconsistencies in applications, and bolster national security.
How will this measure affect applicants for immigration benefits?
The measure will affect about 3.6 million people annually, who will be required to declare their accounts or aliases on social media platforms as part of the identity verification and risk assessment process. They will not be asked to provide passwords, but they will need to share their social media identifiers.
What are the criticisms of using AI to analyze social networks in the migration process?
Critics are focused on the fact that it may compromise the privacy and freedom of expression of the applicants. Civil rights organizations fear that the automation of assessments could lead to unfair or discriminatory decisions, in addition to the fact that AI still makes errors when interpreting ambiguous postings.
What background exists regarding the monitoring of social media in migration processes in the U.S.?
The digital surveillance of social networks for immigrants in the U.S. is not new. It began in 2014 under the administration of Barack Obama with pilot programs, and in 2019 the Department of State started requiring social media identifiers from nearly all foreigners applying for a visa.
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