US considers new social media vetting rules for Israelis under visa waiver program

The United States could soon require that Israeli tourists provide five years of social media history in order to enter the country, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which published draft regulations this week.

If passed, the new regulations would apply to tourists from 42 friendly countries including Israel that are enrolled in Washington’s Visa Waiver Program. The program enables nationals from the listed countries to visit the United States up to 90 days without the requirement of a visa. 

The new regulation proposal is reportedly part of the Trump administration’s plan to tighten the country’s borders. In April, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services revealed that it would screen for potential “antisemitic activity” on social media accounts belonging to international students seeking to study in the U.S. The move came in response to the dramatic increase in antisemitic incidents in the U.S. following the Oct. 7 massacre in 2023. 

A reporter asked U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday whether the new regulation could result in a “decline in tourism.” 

“No. We’re doing so well,” Trump responded. “We just want people to come over here and be safe. We want safety. We want security. We want to make sure we’re not letting the wrong people enter our country,” the president argued.

However, it is currently unclear how the proposed regulations envision tourists from Israel and other allied countries to submit their social media history in order to be allowed to enter the United States. 

A spokesperson from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection spoke to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency regarding how the proposed regulations would impact tourists. 

“Nothing has changed on this front for those coming to the United States. This is not a final rule; it is simply the first step in starting a discussion to have new policy options to keep the American people safe,” the spokesperson stated. 

“The Department is constantly looking at how we vet those coming into the country, especially after the terrorist attack in Washington DC against our National Guard right before Thanksgiving,” the spokesperson added.

There has been a growing international focus on social media posts published by Israeli soldiers during the war in Gaza. In some cases, Israeli soldiers were forced to leave less friendly countries due to threats of potential war crime inquiries. 

In September 2023, merely a month before the Oct. 7 massacre, Washington formally approved Israel’s entry into the coveted Visa Waiver Program. 

“Israel’s entry into the Visa Waiver Program represents a critical step forward in our strategic partnership with Israel that will further strengthen long-standing people-to-people engagement, economic cooperation, and security coordination between our two countries,” then U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at the time. 

“Israel is now the 41st member of the Visa Waiver Program. This important achievement represents a critical step forward in our strategic partnership that will enhance freedom of movement for U.S. citizens,” Blinken added.

Some Democrat lawmakers had pushed for postponing Israel’s entry into the Visa Waver Program until Israel eased entry procedures for Arab Americans.