Tougher US Visa Rules Leave Kenyan Applicants on Edge as Social Media Screening Expands
Nairobi, The Gulf Observer: Kenyans aspiring to study, work, or live in the United States are facing renewed challenges following the announcement of a sweeping new immigration policy by the US government. The policy, which includes enhanced social media screening, allows visa and immigration applications to be denied on the basis of antisemitic content found on applicants’ social media accounts.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Wednesday, April 9, that the new policy takes immediate effect. Under the revised vetting procedures, any content deemed antisemitic — including posts, comments, or likes — will serve as sufficient grounds for the denial of visas, green cards, or other immigration benefits.
“There is no room in the United States for the rest of the world’s extremist sympathisers, and we are under no obligation to admit them or let them stay here,” stated Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security.
The move is part of a broader national security initiative linked to heightened concerns surrounding global extremism and growing unrest tied to the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. The US government says the policy aims to keep individuals with extremist ideologies from entering or remaining in the country, citing recent attacks by foreign nationals as justification for the policy shift.
Already, the Department of State has revoked over 300 student visas, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio referring to some of the affected individuals as “lunatics” for content they posted or endorsed online. While no nation is exempt from the policy, its implications could disproportionately affect Kenyan applicants, given the large number of students and professionals who seek opportunities in the US annually.
The new guidelines add to an existing framework introduced in 2009 that mandates visa applicants to disclose social media usernames, email addresses, and phone numbers used over the past five years. The Trump administration’s latest directive significantly expands the scope and weight of this vetting process.
Platforms under scrutiny include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, among others. All submitted information will be stored indefinitely and shared across US government agencies.
For many Kenyans, the United States remains a top destination for higher education and career advancement. However, the latest developments mark yet another hurdle for prospective immigrants — a growing list of challenges that includes tighter visa quotas, increased scrutiny of financial documents, and now, extensive surveillance of digital footprints.
While Kenya has enjoyed strategic relations with previous US administrations, the new Trump-led government appears determined to implement its immigration agenda without exception — even if allied nations become collateral in the process.
As the policy takes effect, immigration experts advise Kenyan applicants to thoroughly review their online presence and exercise caution in their digital interactions to avoid jeopardising their chances of obtaining US visas.
