Labor unions are suing the Trump administration over the administration’s surveillance of the social media activities of visa holders.
Revocation of Vias
On Tuesday, October 14, the US Department of State announced on X, formerly Twitter, that it has cancelled the visas of at least six people based on comments celebrating Charlie Kirk’s death.
The Department of State wrote: “The United States has no obligation to host foreigners who wish death on Americans. The State Department continues to identify visa holders who celebrated the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk. Here are just a few examples of aliens who are no longer welcome in the U.S.”
This announcement was made after prior warnings from the Secretaries of State. “Visa revocations are under way,” Secretary Mark Rubio said. “If you are here on a visa and cheering on the public assassination of a political figure, prepare to be deported. You are not welcome in this country.”
Although no names or visas were stated, Nhlamulo Baloyi told the media that his business visa was revoked based on social media posts criticizing Kirk and his followers.
Many social media users criticized the department and their revocations, claiming that they went against the free speech guaranteed by the First Amendment. However, many countered that without US citizenship, these rights do not extend to Visa holders.
Labor Unions Take Legal Action
Three major unions , the United Auto Workers, the Communications Workers of America, and the American Federation of Teachers, took legal action against the government. The unions call for “a judge to block the administration from engaging in ‘viewpoint-based investigation and surveillance.’ It also asks for a court order to purge any records created so far under the administration’s program,” according to NBC News.
These unions are suing as they claim that this monitoring of social media and corresponding pattern of consequences regarding legal residence in the United States has resulted in union members withdrawing from their unions and not continuing to engage with their efforts.
Not a Sudden Development
In January, President Trump signed PROTECTING THE UNITED STATES FROM FOREIGN TERRORISTS AND OTHER NATIONAL SECURITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY THREATS, an executive order ensuring visa holders and other non-citizens “do not bear hostile attitudes toward its citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles, and do not advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to our national security.”
In June, the State Department announced that making social media accounts public for vetting would be included in the visa adjudication process.