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U.S. Begins to Use Social Media Accounts as Vetting for Immigrants

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You would think something as innocent as making a Facebook post wouldn’t have an impact on whether you could get into a country or not. Why would something so intimate and personal be used to judge a thing that is vastly more important? This question, as well as many others, have been brought up as the U.S. has started a new requirement for attempting to get a U.S. Visa.

The United States border control officers have begun asking immigrants for a look at their Facebook profiles before they’re allowed to enter the country. If someone refuses, then they too may be refused entry. The moral quandary this new practice raises is something Sekou Clarke was recently asked to speak about for CVM Television, a news channel in Jamaica. It seems that the professional achievements a person has gained are no longer enough if you are a foreign national and would like to move to the U.S. Is checking a person’s social media accounts for their opinions and beliefs before allowing them into a country morally sound? Clarke asserts that he is an Advocate for National security. However, this level of social media vetting may open the gates to excessive intrusion and biased rejections by border control officers.

What’s to stop the United States from seeking access to other social media accounts like Pinterest or Instagram? What exactly are border control officials trying to discern from an innocuous Facebook page? Freedom to express who you are and what you feel is a right, it seems, that the United States is only granting to citizens. If you are an immigrant seeking to live in or visit the U.S. it is advisable that you keep a close eye on what you post on your Facebook page. At least for the foreseeable future.

If you or someone you know is seeking aid as an immigrant to the United States, reach out to Sekou Clarke Law Group. Call us today at (407) 269-8774 or contact us online

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