The Trump administration has proposed a significant expansion of screening requirements for millions of foreign travelers who currently enter the United States without a visa. According to a notice published by the Department of Homeland Security, visitors from countries in the visa waiver program would be required to provide additional personal information, including five years of social media activity, as part of the updated entry process.
The visa waiver program currently includes 42 countries whose citizens can visit the United States for up to 90 days for business or tourism without the need for a traditional visa interview. Participants include key European partners such as the United Kingdom, Germany and France, as well as U.S. allies in the Asia Pacific region and beyond such as Australia, Japan, Israel, New Zealand and South Korea.
Proposed changes to the ESTA system
Although these travelers are exempt from applying for a visa, they must complete the Electronic System for Travel Authorization before arrival. The administration intends to overhaul ESTA by transitioning it to a mobile only platform and expanding the amount of information applicants must submit.
The proposed requirements include mandatory disclosure of social media accounts used during the previous five years, all email addresses used over the past decade and detailed information about immediate family members. This includes phone numbers and home addresses. Customs and Border Protection, the agency responsible for administering ESTA, said the changes are intended to align with an executive order issued earlier this year that focuses on strengthening national security reviews for foreign visitors.
The administration argues that expanded data collection is needed to identify individuals who may pose a threat to public safety. Homeland Security officials said the additional screening would strengthen their ability to detect possible fraud or undisclosed connections to suspicious activity.
Concerns about impact on travel and tourism
Critics of the proposal warn that the new rules could discourage international visitors and reduce travel to the United States. Tourism and business groups have expressed concern that requiring social media histories, detailed family data and decade old email records could create confusion or anxiety among travelers who have long relied on the simplified visa waiver system.
Some analysts note that the timing could prove especially problematic. The United States is preparing to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup along with Canada and Mexico, an event expected to draw millions of international visitors. More stringent entry requirements, they argue, could hurt attendance and strain relations with partner nations.
Privacy advocates have also raised questions about how social media data would be evaluated by immigration authorities. They warn that increased scrutiny may chill free expression among travelers who fear that online posts, political commentary or old accounts taken out of context could complicate their entry into the country.
Part of a broader expansion of immigration vetting
The proposal comes during a period of heightened enforcement across the U.S. immigration system. Over the past year the administration has directed agencies to increase the review of personal histories, digital footprints and past conduct for a wide range of applicants seeking to enter or remain in the country legally.
The State Department has expanded its questioning of visa applicants during overseas interviews. Meanwhile, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has instructed officers to examine the social media activity of several groups of immigrants already living in the United States. Officials have been directed to flag online behavior considered hostile to the United States and to apply stricter interpretations of the requirement that citizenship applicants demonstrate good moral character.
The administration maintains that these measures are necessary in order to identify potential national security risks and prevent abuse of immigration benefits. Opponents counter that many of the changes are overly broad and could unfairly target people who have no connection to security threats.
The proposal to revise the ESTA screening process is still subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget. If approved, the new requirements would apply to millions of travelers each year and would mark one of the most sweeping changes to the visa waiver program since its creation.