Perhaps what is most depressing about this new reporting is how unsurprising it is. The Trump administration has updated guidelines that mean immigrants could potentially be denied a green card for expressing political opinions deemed anti-American or anti-Israeli. Immigration officers have been instructed to elevate cases involving potential anti-American or antisemitic conduct or ideology to managers and the agency's general counsel's office for review.
What Constitutes Wrongthink?
Examples cited by the New York Times include a social media post stating 'Stop Israeli Terror in Palestine' with a crossed-out Israeli flag. Participating in pro-Palestinian protests could also count against applicants. The guidance on anti-American ideology includes burning a US flag or holding a sign advocating overthrow of the US government, which could be interpreted broadly.
Chilling Effect on Free Speech
While antisemitism must never be tolerated, the administration appears to be redefining the term to include legitimate criticism of the Israeli government. This crackdown on dissent is not new; the administration has worked with groups like Canary Mission and Betar to identify students to detain or deport for criticizing Israel. Cases like Tufts student Rümeysa Öztürk, detained for co-writing a pro-Palestinian op-ed, illustrate the trend.
Broader Implications
Brian Hauss of the ACLU warned that noncitizens have First Amendment rights, and while the administration currently targets speech on Israel or flag desecration, there is no telling what political opinions it will censor in the future. The government's abuse of the immigration system to suppress dissent should concern everyone.
Spiral of Silence
Recent data from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression found that at hyper-liberal schools, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the one issue difficult for liberal students to discuss. Watching individuals like Öztürk or Mahmoud Khalil face detention for their views creates a chilling effect on speech, even among citizens. To counter this, those with privilege must speak up and not self-censor.
Arwa Mahdawi is a Guardian US columnist.
