The Trump administration is proposing major changes for those hoping to enter the United States, requesting certain international visitors share more personal information than ever before.
The Federal Register published a controversial proposal from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) earlier this month. The proposal presents a slew of changes for some applicants screened by the federal agency, a part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
In addition to the information already requested in a tourist’s Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) application, CBP seeks the authority to request over 10 new categories of information. Among them is a traveler’s social media activity over the past five years. The proposal didn’t specify exactly what that demand would require, though it could include (as examples) a tourist’s social media handles, who they’re following online, and their posts. CBP noted that it wants social media to be a “mandatory data element” on ESTA applications for travelers to complete.
The federal agency is additionally seeking, “when feasible,” access to the phone numbers a traveler has used in the past five years. Moreover, CBP wants the person’s email addresses over the past 10 years, biometric data, and extensive personal information about that traveler’s family members. The organization also wants “IP addresses and metadata” from a traveler’s electronically submitted photos.
The new vetting measures would apply to most U.S.-bound tourists arriving from the 42 countries that are part of the Visa Waiver Program. Those places include the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Qatar, and more.
The new regulations would also require U.S. arrivals via ESTA to upload a selfie when applying for entry authorization. That would be “in addition to the photo of the passport biographical page.” CBP also wants to scrap ESTA’s website and require applicants to submit their information through the ESTA mobile app. The federal agency argues that the latter has “superior identity verification methods.”
What Else Should Travelers Know About The Possible Future Of ESTA And Entering The U.S.?
Critics of the proposal argue that the new ESTA requirements, if approved, would infringe on travelers’ personal information. Those with an online footprint flagged by the government could be denied entry into the U.S. In a statement, Privacy International said, “(The U.S. government) accumulating this most intimate personal data will create an unprecedented immigration system.”
“At the U.S. border, your social media and your devices are at risk, making you a target,” the London-based charity further asserted.
CBP clarified that the new regulations are just being proposed, as of this report. The motion still needs to be reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). It would also require “approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995.”
“Nothing has changed on this front for those coming to the United States. This is not a final rule, it is simply the first step in starting a discussion to have new policy options to keep the American people safe,” CBP said to USA TODAY. “This new proposal is in line with the January 2025 Executive Order 14161 to vet those who are coming into this country using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) by allowing CBP to collect additional information from non-U.S. citizens applying through the visa waiver program from eligible countries.”
“The Department is constantly looking at how we vet those coming into the country, especially after the terrorist attack in Washington, D.C., against our National Guard right before Thanksgiving,” the federal agency added.
