Immigrant Screening for “Anti-Americanism” Sparks McCarthyism Fears
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will now screen immigrants seeking legal pathways to live and work in the U.S. for “anti-Americanism,” raising concerns about subjective judgments in rejecting applicants. Officers will consider whether an applicant has “endorsed, promoted, supported, or otherwise espoused” anti-American views. The policy’s vagueness regarding what constitutes “anti-Americanism” has ignited worries that it could open the door for bias. Legal experts are divided on the constitutionality of the policy, with some arguing it violates free speech rights, while others believe the First Amendment does not protect non-citizens.
John Q. Hosedrinker