The Donald Trump administration on Wednesday announced an increase in screening of applicants for H-1B visas for highly skilled workers, with an internal State Department memo stating that anyone who engages in “censorship” of free speech should be considered for denial.
H-1B visas, which allow American employers to hire foreign workers in specialized fields, are essential for American technology companies that hire heavily from countries such as India and China. Many leaders of these companies expressed their support for Trump in the recent presidential election.
The statement, which was sent to all US missions on Tuesday (2), orders US consular officials to review the resumes or LinkedIn profiles of H-1B applicants – and their family members who will be traveling with them – to check whether they have worked in areas that include activities such as disinformation, content moderation, fact checking, compliance and online security, among others.
“If you discover evidence that a nominee was responsible for or complicit in censoring or attempting to censor protected expression in the United States, you should seek a finding that the nominee is ineligible,” the statement said.
Details about enhanced screening for H-1B visas, including a focus on censorship and freedom of expression, have not been previously reported. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to a request for comment on the content.
The statement said all visa applicants are subject to the policy, but seeks heightened review of H-1B applicants since they often work in the technology sector, “including social media or financial services companies engaged in suppressing protected expression.”
“You should carefully explore their employment history to ensure they have not engaged in such activities,” she says.
The Trump administration has made free speech, especially what it sees as the stifling of conservative voices online, a centerpiece of its foreign policy.
The authorities have repeatedly intervened in European politics to denounce what they say is the repression of right-wing politicians, including in Romania, Germany and France, and have accused the European authorities of censoring opinions such as criticism of immigration in the name of combating disinformation.
Trump has already significantly restricted screening of student visa applicants, ordering US consular officials to review social media posts that may be hostile to the United States.
As part of his broad crackdown on immigration, the president in September imposed new fees on H-1B visas.
Trump and his Republican allies have repeatedly accused the administration of former Democratic President Joe Biden of encouraging the suppression of free speech on online platforms, allegations that have focused on efforts to curb false claims about vaccines and the election.