Kenyans seeking U.S. Green Cards or visas will now undergo stricter vetting, including an extensive review of their social media history, under new immigration policies proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump.

The directive requires applicants to provide usernames for all social media platforms used in the past five years, as well as past email addresses and phone numbers. This policy, which has been in effect since 2009, will now be expanded to include most visa categories, such as diversity visas, work and student visas, and tourist visas.

U.S. authorities will indefinitely store the collected data and may share it with various government agencies, as well as foreign governments allied with the U.S., for security purposes. Platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn will be scrutinized as part of the vetting process.

According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), this measure aims to enhance national security by improving identity verification and screening processes. The policy aligns with Trump’s directive, Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.

The new vetting process could significantly impact thousands of Kenyans who apply for U.S. visas each year. A recent U.S. State Department bulletin revealed that 4,459 Kenyans were selected for the 2025 Diversity Visa Lottery, an increase from the 3,760 selected in the previous year.

However, the policy has faced backlash from civil rights organizations, which argue that it violates privacy rights and could suppress free speech. Critics warn that social media users may feel pressured to censor their views for fear of jeopardizing future U.S. visa applications.