Writing these 5 words on social media could now cost an immigrant their Green Card. And that’s just one item on the list

The Donald Trump administration is taking a hardline stance on immigration once again. The latest move could see nearly 400 naturalized American citizens have their citizenship revoked due to their past political views or actions. This comes as the administration continues to make it increasingly difficult for immigrants to gain official US citizenship.

New guidance issued by the administration details what actions may lead to a Green Card application being denied. Expressing political opinions, particularly those critical of Israel, is now a potentially disqualifying factor. If an immigrant has ever posted “Stop Israeli Terror in Palestine” on social media, their application may be denied. This is just one example of the kind of “questionable speech” that immigration officers at USCIS will be looking out for.

According to Unilad, this guidance was reportedly distributed to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) employees last month and is being used to vet Green Card applicants. Desecrating the American flag and taking part in pro-Palestine protests could also result in a denied application. The administration says this is necessary to root out “anti-American ideologies” and ensure immigration benefits are not given to those who “despise the country.”

The crackdown is already showing up in denial rates for high-skilled immigrants

This move follows a USCIS announcement from August, where the agency said it had “expanded the types of benefit requests that receive social media vetting, and reviews for anti-American activity will be added to that vetting.” The new guidance makes clear that even past social media activity can be held against an applicant, meaning that posts made years ago could now come back to haunt someone during their application process.

The administration’s policies have already led to a sharp rise in denials, even for those classified as an “Alien of Extraordinary Ability.” The USCIS defines this category as someone who can “demonstrate extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics through sustained national or international acclaim.”

In Q4 of 2024, the denial rate for these immigrants was 25.6 percent. By Q4 of 2025, that number had jumped to 46.6 percent, nearly doubling in just one year. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans have advanced a $140 billion plan to fund Trump’s immigration crackdown. Trump has also been making other moves to reshape how immigration enforcement agencies are perceived, including backing a proposal to rebrand ICE entirely.

The budget resolution passed by a 50-48 vote, with all Democrats voting against it. The plan would allocate as much as $140 billion to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), two agencies at the forefront of Trump’s mass deportation agenda.

The Trump administration has been pushing hard for increased funding for these agencies. The shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has led to a growing backlog of cases, and the administration is looking for ways to speed up the process and clear the queue.

Democrats oppose the plan, arguing it would further militarize the US-Mexico border and target vulnerable immigrant communities. According to The Guardian, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the plan would “pump $140 billion towards rogue agencies” and ignore the needs of “families struggling with the high costs of childcare, groceries, and gasoline.”

Trump’s immigration agenda has also been a frequent topic in his recent media appearances, including a tense exchange during his 60 Minutes interview. The plan must now pass through the House of Representatives before the relevant committees can begin writing the legislation that will formally unlock the funding for both agencies.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has said that if progress is made on the reconciliation bill, he will hold a vote on a separate measure to allocate funding for the rest of DHS operations, excluding ICE and CBP. Until then, both agencies remain without a long-term funding solution, even as enforcement activity continues to ramp up across the country.