WASHINGTON – The Trump administration is set to require foreign tourists to hand over the past five years of their social media history in order to enter the United States.
The drastic move was the latest attempt by President Donald Trump to scrutinise those entering the country, after an immigration freeze from 19 countries was announced last week.
The ‘mandatory’ notice was published by Customs and Border Protection on Tuesday in the Federal Register.
Social media data would be required for any people entering the United States, including countries like the United Kingdom and Germany who do not mandate visas for travel.
It follows a June announcement by the State Department that ordered travelers to make their social media profiles public.
People entering the US will also be asked to provide email addresses, phone numbers and information on their family members in order to achieve safe passage.
The notice said that the American public will have 60 days with which to provide comment.
With the World Cup and Olympics headed to the United States in 2026 and 2028, respectively, there will be hundreds of thousands of foreign travelers entering the country.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House and Department of Homeland Security for comment.
In August, the Trump administration said it wants immigration services to begin scrutinising the social media accounts of potential visa and green card applicants for ‘anti-Americanism.’
President Donald Trump has made toughening up US Citizenship and Immigration Services a key part of his agenda on immigration, but this goes beyond those trying to gain citizenship.
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