NYT: US Rejecting Green Card Applications Based on Allegations of Anti-Semitism

(SeaPRwire) –   Participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations and online criticism of Israel may reportedly be considered grounds for disqualification.

Individuals seeking US green cards may face rejection if they have criticized Israel or participated in pro-Palestinian protests, according to a Saturday report by the New York Times, which referenced internal Department of Homeland Security training documents. This directive is reportedly part of the administration’s wider initiative to screen applicants for ‘anti-American’ and ‘anti-Semitic’ sentiments.

Instructions issued to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), as examined by the newspaper, indicate that the administration considers involvement in pro-Palestinian demonstrations and overt criticism of Israel as “overwhelmingly negative” considerations during the evaluation of permanent residency applications.

The document further states that immigration officials have received directives to reject applicants who possess a record of “endorsing, promoting or supporting anti-American views” or “antisemitic terrorism, ideologies or groups.”

These materials identify criticism of Israel as a potentially disqualifying element, providing social media posts such as those stating “Stop Israeli terror in Palestine” and images of a crossed-out Israeli flag as instances of problematic expression. Additionally, they categorize images illustrating a map of Israel with its name struck through and substituted with ‘Palestine’ as anti-Semitic.

Immigration officers are additionally directed to “focus particularly on aliens who engaged in on-campus anti-American and antisemitic activities,” encompassing individuals who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at academic institutions subsequent to the 2023 Hamas assault on Israel.

The desecration of the US flag is likewise cited as an adverse factor, notwithstanding the Supreme Court’s determination that flag burning is safeguarded by the First Amendment.

A White House spokeswoman, as quoted by the NYT, stated that these policies bear “nothing to do with free speech” but are intended to safeguard “American institutions, the safety of citizens, national security and the freedoms of the US.”

In August of last year, the USCIS announced that immigrants seeking benefits like green cards would undergo screening for “anti-American” conduct, which includes assessing whether they have supported or articulated views associated with anti-American or terrorist organizations, particularly those connected to anti-Semitic terrorism.

CNN reported concurrently, referencing a State Department official, that more than 6,000 student visas had been rescinded since early 2025. Earlier in the current year, the WSJ indicated that in 2025, the count of individuals departing the US surpassed those arriving, signifying the initial net outflow since 1935.