US defends expanded social media screening of foreign visa applicantsThe US State Department defended expanded social media screening of foreign visa applicants, citing national security and public safety. The department did not confirm the memorandumBy IANS Published Date - 7 August 2026, 06:47 PMWashington: The US State Department defended its extensive online screening of foreign visa applicants after a report said the Trump administration was expanding social media vetting to additional visa categories, including foreign journalists and some Canadian and Mexican professionals. The Daily Signal reported that an internal State Department memorandum required applicants to make their social media accounts public or open for examination by consular officers. According to the report, the expanded requirement would cover foreign media representatives and qualified Canadian and Mexican nationals entering the United States for business under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The department said every foreign national seeking admission to the United States was subjected to extensive checks.