Trump's Plan to Review 5 Years of Travelers' Social Media History

New Requirements for Travelers Entering the United States

The Trump administration has proposed a significant change to the way travelers entering the United States are vetted. Under this new plan, all visitors would be required to provide their social media histories from the past five years as part of the entry process. This proposal was filed on December 9 in the Federal Register by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

According to the notice, this data check will be mandatory for all new entrants to the U.S., regardless of whether they come from countries that require visas. For example, travelers from nations such as Britain, France, Germany, and South Korea would face additional hurdles when attempting to enter the country.

This change is expected to affect individuals who are eligible for the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. This program allows visitors to travel to the U.S. for business or tourism for up to 90 days without a visa, provided they obtain an electronic travel authorization. The CBP document states that the new rules would go beyond just a social media check. Applicants would also be required to provide phone numbers used in the last five years, email addresses used in the last 10 years, and details about family members, including names, dates and places of birth, phone numbers, and residential addresses.

Currently, people traveling to the U.S. through the Visa Waiver Program must enroll in the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). They pay a $40 fee and submit their email address, home address, phone number, and emergency contact information. This authorization is valid for two years.

The changes were submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) through an emergency clearance. The justification given was an unanticipated event, with the belief that following the normal procedures would result in public harm.

Implementation Timeline and Public Comments

The CBP is currently accepting 60 days of public comments on the proposal before it is submitted to the OMB for approval. During this time, stakeholders and the general public can provide feedback on the potential impact of the new requirements.

An immigration law firm, Fragomen, issued an alert on December 9, warning that if the changes are approved, the CBP will implement the updated protocols over the coming weeks and months. According to the firm, ESTA applicants should be aware that if these changes are finalized, they would be asked for a higher level of personal detail in future applications and become subject to a social media review by CBP.

The increase in data collection could also mean that ESTA applicants would face an increased likelihood of being flagged for closer scrutiny and/or would experience longer waits for ESTA approval.

Broader Context of Data Collection Efforts

This announcement comes as the U.S. expects over 1.24 million international visitors traveling to next year’s World Cup. The Trump administration has continued to push for increased data collection of travelers.

In June, the State Department announced that it would require “all applicants for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas” to change their social media profiles to public. Additionally, last week, the State Department announced it would expand the “online presence review” requirement to include H-1B applicants and their dependents beginning on December 15, 2025.

Back in October, the Trump administration enacted a new $250 "visa integrity fee" for entering the U.S. from non-visa waiver countries like Mexico, Argentina, India, Brazil, and China. All of these changes to U.S. entry ahead of the World Cup may pose additional challenges for travelers.