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Trump aims to stop immigration from 'all third world'
The Trump administration said it is halting all asylum decisions in the wake of the National Guard shooting in Washington, D.C. Experts say the U.S. has rigorous vetting systems for asylum-seekers. LiveNOW’s Austin Westfall is joined by Will Weissert, White House Reporter for the Associated Press, to discuss current White House headlines.
Foreign tourists who can currently enter the U.S. without a visa may soon have to submit up to five years worth of social media and extensive email history to be approved for travel.
According to a proposal from Customs and Border Protection, the agency wants to
New Visa Waiver Program rules
What we know:
The proposed rule would apply to tourists from roughly 40 countries who are part of the Visa Waiver Program. Those travelers submit their travel applications through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which automatically screens them and then approves them for travel to the U.S. for up to 90 days. Unlike visa applicants, they generally do not have to go into an embassy or consulate for an interview.
FILE - Travelers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in Arlington, Virginia, US, on Thursday, July 3, 2025. Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
In addition to their social media history, the new rule would also require them to submit information including telephone numbers the person has used over the past five years or email addresses used over the past decade. Also sought would be metadata from electronically submitted photos, as well as extensive information from the applicant’s family members, including their places of birth and their telephone numbers.
Travelers from countries not included in the Visa Waiver Program system are already required to submit their social media information, a policy that dates back to the first Trump administration. The policy remained during Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration.
Big picture view:
It’s part of the Trump administration’s efforts to step up monitoring of international travelers and immigrants.
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Since January, the Trump administration has stepped up checks of immigrants and travelers, both those trying to enter the U.S. as well as those already in the country. Officials have tightened visa rules by requiring that applicants set all of their social media accounts to public so that they can be more easily scrutinized and checked for what authorities view as potential derogatory information. Refusing to set an account to public can be considered grounds for visa denial, according to guidelines provided by the State Department.
What they're saying:
"We want safety, we want security, we want to make sure we’re not letting the wrong people come into our country," President Donald Trump said.
The rule, however, has not been finalized.
"Nothing has changed on this front for those coming to the United States. This is not a final rule, it is simply the first step in starting a discussion to have new policy options to keep the American people safe," CBP said in a statement.
The other side:
Immigration and free speech advocates have expressed concern about what the Trump administration is looking for and whether it targets Trump critics.
What's next:
The public has 60 days to comment on the proposed changes before they go into effect, the notice said.
The Source: This report includes information from The Associated Press.