The Government Wants Your Posts Before It Grants You Papers

The Trump administration has approved a profoundly disturbing new immigration policy: collecting social media account information from anyone seeking to change their immigration status or obtain work or travel authorization. On February 11, the policy was approved for a one-year period.

Social media data will now be required of "the more than 3 million people applying each year for immigration status changes—such as seeking work or travel authorization, a green card, or citizenship," notes Emile Ayoub of the Brennan Center for Justice. "In some cases, they must also provide the handles of their young children, spouses, and parents, many of whom are U.S. citizens, green card holders, or are otherwise in the United States legally."