WASHINGTON, Dec 4— U.S. consular officers have been instructed to scrutinize H-1B visa applicants for involvement in online censorship, the Trump administration said Wednesday, signaling a sharp focus on free speech in tech-sector hiring.
An internal State Department cable, dated December 2, directs officers to examine applicants’ employment histories, including LinkedIn profiles, to identify work in areas such as misinformation control, content moderation, fact-checking, and online safety. Family members accompanying applicants are also subject to review.
The memo stated, “If you uncover evidence an applicant was responsible for, or complicit in, censorship or attempted censorship of protected expression in the United States, you should pursue a finding that the applicant is ineligible.”
A spokesperson said, “We do not support aliens coming to the United States to work as censors muzzling Americans,” adding that the policy reflects concern that allowing foreign-led censorship could “insult and injure the American people.”
The enhanced screening applies to new and returning H-1B applicants, many of whom work in technology and social media. The move underscores Trump’s broader emphasis on protecting conservative voices online, which has influenced his administration’s foreign policy and criticism of European censorship practices.
Previously, the administration required consular officers to vet student visa applicants’ social media posts and imposed higher fees on H-1B visas. Lawmakers have suggested visa restrictions could extend to foreign officials regulating U.S. tech companies, linking policy to broader debates over speech and platform oversight.
