USCIS Now Tracking Social Media: What Every Immigrant Must Know in 2025

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it will begin collecting social media identifiers on immigration applications. This change, published in the Federal Register on September 16, 2025, has generated significant discussion among immigrants, attorneys, and advocacy groups. Under the new policy, applicants must now disclose their social media handles and usernames when filing certain forms, including applications for naturalization, adjustment of status, asylum, and refugee classification.

The initiative stems from Executive Order 14161, which directs federal agencies to implement stronger vetting standards to protect national security. According to USCIS, collecting social media identifiers will allow officers to confirm identity, detect fraud, and identify potential threats. Importantly, the agency is not asking for passwords or private access to accounts—only the identifiers that people use publicly on platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, and others.

Which Immigration Forms Are Affected

The requirement to provide social media identifiers in immigration applications will apply to many of the most widely used USCIS forms. These include the N-400 Application for Naturalization, the I-131 Application for Travel Document, the I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (green card), the I-589 Application for Asylum, the I-590 Refugee Classification form, the I-730 Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition, the I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, and the I-829 Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status.

For immigrants navigating these processes, the inclusion of social media questions represents an additional layer of scrutiny. USCIS has estimated that compliance will result in more than 3.2 million hours of additional paperwork burden nationwide every year, though no new filing fees will be added.

Privacy Concerns and Free Speech Issues

One of the most controversial aspects of this policy is its impact on privacy rights in immigration. Once a social media identifier is submitted, it becomes part of the applicant’s official immigration record. USCIS officers may review publicly available posts and online interactions as part of their vetting process. Civil liberties advocates argue that this could have a chilling effect on free expression, especially for individuals who use social media to express political or religious views.

Although USCIS stresses that only public identifiers will be collected and private messages will not be accessed, the agency has not provided clear guidance on how officers will interpret online activity. Humor, cultural references, or controversial commentary could be misread, leading to unfair denials or delays. This raises broader questions about the balance between national security and immigrant rights.

Legal Challenges: First Amendment and Administrative Law

The policy may face legal scrutiny in federal courts. One area of concern is the First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech and association. Requiring immigrants to provide their social media identifiers could arguably deter lawful expression if applicants fear that controversial posts might hurt their chances of approval. Courts have historically been cautious about government policies that create chilling effects on speech, even when national security is at stake.

Another possible avenue for challenge lies in the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.S.C. § 706, which allows courts to strike down agency actions that are “arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law.” Critics may argue that USCIS has not adequately justified how social media data will be evaluated, raising the risk of arbitrary decision-making. If the agency cannot demonstrate that the collection directly advances its stated goals, litigants may argue that the policy is unlawful under the APA.

Finally, while noncitizens generally have more limited constitutional protections in immigration proceedings, due process under the Fifth Amendment may still provide a basis for challenge. Applicants denied benefits because of misinterpreted or misapplied social media evidence could claim that their cases were decided without adequate procedural safeguards.

What Applicants Should Do Now

For individuals preparing to file an application with USCIS, the best strategy is accuracy and consistency. Social media identifiers should be reported exactly as they are used. Applicants should also review their public profiles to ensure that they do not contain misleading or contradictory information that could conflict with their immigration paperwork. For example, discrepancies in names, birth dates, or marital status between an application and online presence could raise unnecessary red flags.

Public Comment Period and Next Steps

The Federal Register notice opened a 30-day comment period ending on October 16, 2025. During this time, the public, legal professionals, and advocacy groups are invited to submit feedback at www.regulations.gov under Docket ID USCIS–2025–0003. Submitting comments is an opportunity to challenge the necessity, scope, and potential impact of the rule before it becomes a permanent part of immigration vetting.

After the comment period, USCIS will finalize the rule and begin implementing it across the affected immigration forms. Once in effect, applicants should expect social media disclosure to become a standard feature of U.S. immigration law.

Final Thoughts

The collection of social media identifiers in immigration applications signals a profound shift in how USCIS evaluates immigrants and their eligibility for benefits. For the government, the change represents a modern approach to vetting that aligns with current security challenges. For immigrants, however, it introduces new uncertainties about how online activity might affect their future in the United States.

Whether this policy will withstand constitutional and administrative challenges remains to be seen. In the meantime, immigrants and their attorneys must adapt to this new reality, treating social media as part of the official immigration record. As USCIS moves forward, the debate over privacy, free expression, and national security will likely continue—both in public forums and in the courts.

Legal Disclaimer
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Immigration outcomes depend on timely filing, individual case facts, and prevailing laws and policies. Please call attorney Thomas M. Lee at 213-251-5533 for a free legal consultation