DHS published an updated review of privacy issues which reversed the ban on USCIS officers creating social media accounts to monitor people applying for visas. It is unclear how the policy will work in action, as Twitter and other social media platforms have policies prohibiting fake or impersonating accounts and have shut down accounts used for government surveillance in the recent past. The DHS document also clarifies that DHS officers will not be able to contact anyone with the fake accounts, only view profiles and activity. Though increased social media checks became popular following the San Bernardino attack in 2015, others criticize the possibility for abuse.
– Weekly Immigration Briefing by Olivia Hester, Immigration Law Analyst at Docketwise
Posted in: Immigration
posted on: September 9, 2019