Columbia University student demonstrators denouncing the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil in New York City last month. Reuters
Columbia University student demonstrators denouncing the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil in New York City last month. Reuters
Columbia University student demonstrators denouncing the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil in New York City last month. Reuters
Columbia University student demonstrators denouncing the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil in New York City last month. Reuters

US immigration to screen visa applicants' social media for 'anti-Semitic' content


Jihan Abdalla
  • English
  • Arabic

Immigration authorities announced on Wednesday that social media activity perceived as anti-Semitic, as well as the "physical harassment of Jewish" people, will now be grounds for denying applicants US visas and permanent residency.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services said the new guidance will take effect immediately and affect those applying for green cards, student visas and teaching positions at universities.

“There is no room in the United States for the rest of the world’s terrorist sympathisers and we are under no obligation to admit them or let them stay here,” said Tricia McLaughlin, Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary for public affairs."

She said Kristi Noem, US Secretary of Homeland Security, "has made it clear that anyone who thinks they can come to America and hide behind the First Amendment to advocate for anti-Semitic violence and terrorism – think again. You are not welcome here.”

A participant holds a US flag during a naturalisation ceremony new American citizens in 2022. AFP
A participant holds a US flag during a naturalisation ceremony new American citizens in 2022. AFP

Under the new rule, authorities will consider social media content that indicates support for Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah and the Houthis as grounds for the rejection of visas and said the move would protect the US from extremists and "terrorist aliens".

The move follows President Donald Trump's executive order, signed in January, that called for the revocation of visas of foreign students and others who took part in pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses as part of what the administration has called an effort to combat anti-Semitism.

The Trump administration has said anti-Semitism on campuses and elsewhere has risen sharply since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 that killed 1,200 people and triggered the war on Gaza, now 18 months old.

However, free speech advocates and pro-Palestinian groups fear the measures are being used to silence critics of a war that has killed more than 50,800 Palestinians in Gaza and reduced much of the coastal enclave to rubble.

Whether the measure will be applied to people currently in the US legally and already vetted has yet to be established.

The practice of immigration officials monitoring social media activity is not new. It is known date back to the second term of former president Barack Obama (2013-2017) – though was perhaps in operation earlier – and intensified during Mr Trump's first term in office (2017-2021).

The development comes amid the high-profile case of Mahmoud Khalil, a green card-holding Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate who was detained by plainclothes immigration officials last month. Authorities say he supported Hamas, without providing evidence, and moved to revoke his green card and have him deported.

An immigration judge on Tuesday said the government has until 5pm on Wednesday to present evidence as to why Mr Khalil, who served as a negotiator with the Columbia administration during the student protests at the university in New York City last year, should be deported.

The judge said that without compelling evidence, she may order his release on Friday.

AT%20A%20GLANCE
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The specs

Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six

Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm

Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto

Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km

Price: From Dh796,600

On sale: now

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

Wicked: For Good

Director: Jon M Chu

Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater

Rating: 4/5

'THE WORST THING YOU CAN EAT'

Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.

Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines: 

Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.

Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.

Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.

Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.

Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE

When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.

T20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER

Results

UAE beat Nigeria by five wickets

Hong Kong beat Canada by 32 runs

Friday fixtures

10am, Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi – Ireland v Jersey

7.30pm, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi – Canada v Oman

Ant-Man and the Wasp

Director: Peyton Reed

Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas

Three stars

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohamed%20Kordofani%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiran%20Riak%2C%20Eiman%20Yousif%2C%20Nazar%20Goma%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Settlers

Director: Louis Theroux

Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz

Rating: 5/5

Company profile

Name: Tratok Portal

Founded: 2017

Based: UAE

Sector: Travel & tourism

Size: 36 employees

Funding: Privately funded

Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Neo%20Mobility%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20February%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abhishek%20Shah%20and%20Anish%20Garg%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Logistics%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Delta%20Corp%2C%20Pyse%20Sustainability%20Fund%2C%20angel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
'The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey'

Rating: 3/5

Directors: Ramin Bahrani, Debbie Allen, Hanelle Culpepper, Guillermo Navarro

Writers: Walter Mosley

Stars: Samuel L Jackson, Dominique Fishback, Walton Goggins

Updated: April 09, 2025, 4:21 PM