The Trump administration has issued guidance allowing immigration officers to deny green cards to applicants based on their political speech, including participation in pro-Palestinian protests and criticism of Israel. Internal Department of Homeland Security training materials reviewed by The New York Times show officers must now weigh "antisemitic" and "anti-American" views as "overwhelmingly negative" factors when adjudicating applications.

The materials cite specific examples of disqualifying speech, including a social media post reading "Stop Israeli Terror in Palestine" and maps of Israel with the country name crossed out. Officers are also instructed to penalize applicants who desecrate the American flag. Green card approvals have fallen by more than half in recent months, according to a Times analysis of agency data.

Critics, including former Biden administration officials, say the policy conflates opposition to Israeli government policies with antisemitism and represents ideological screening that is "fundamentally un-American." The agency, once considered a gateway for legal migration, has rebranded immigration services officers as "homeland defenders" under President Trump.