US Green Card Applicants Could Be Rejected for Criticizing Israel, Pro-Palestinian Protests

US green card applicants could be rejected for criticizing Israel and taking part in pro-Palestinian protests, the New York Times reported on Saturday, citing internal Department of Homeland Security training materials. The guidance is reportedly part of the administration's broader effort to vet applicants for 'anti-American' and 'anti-Semitic' views.

In instructions to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reviewed by the newspaper, the administration treats participation in pro-Palestinian protests and public criticism of Israel as "overwhelmingly negative" factors when deciding on permanent residency applications. According to the document, immigration officers have been instructed to deny applicants found to have a history of "endorsing, promoting or supporting anti-American views" or "antisemitic terrorism, ideologies or groups."

The materials include criticism of Israel as a potentially disqualifying factor, citing social media posts declaring "Stop Israeli terror in Palestine" and showing the Israeli flag crossed out as examples of questionable speech. They also reference images depicting a map of Israel with the country's name crossed out and replaced with 'Palestine' as anti-Semitic.

Immigration officers are also instructed to "focus particularly on aliens who engaged in on-campus anti-American and antisemitic activities," including those who took part in pro-Palestinian protests at universities following the 2023 Hamas attack against Israel. Desecration of the US flag is also listed as a negative factor, despite the Supreme Court ruling that flag burning is protected under the First Amendment.

According to the White House spokeswoman, as cited by the NYT, the policies have "nothing to do with free speech" but are meant to protect "American institutions, the safety of citizens, national security and the freedoms of the US."

Last August, the USCIS said immigrants applying for benefits such as green cards would be screened for "anti-American" behavior, including whether they have supported or expressed views linked to anti-American or terrorist groups, including those tied to anti-Semitic terrorism. CNN reported at the time, citing a State Department official, that over 6,000 student visas had been revoked since the beginning of 2025. Earlier this year, the WSJ reported that in 2025, the number of people leaving the US exceeded those entering, marking the first net outflow since 1935.