Trump admin may deny H-1B visas to people who worked in content moderation, report says | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessCreatorsMobilePolicySecurityTransportationReviewsExpandLaptopsPhonesHeadphonesTabletsSmart HomeSmartwatchesSpeakersDronesScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthEntertainmentExpandGamesTV ShowsMoviesAudioAIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee All ShoppingCarsExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersOther TransportationFeaturesVideosExpandYouTubeTikTokInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Trump admin may deny H-1B visas to people who worked in content moderation, report saysComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...NewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsPolicyClosePolicyPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PolicyTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechTrump admin may deny H-1B visas to people who worked in content moderation, report saysThe administration wants officials to check whether an applicant previously worked to ‘censor’ free speech online.The administration wants officials to check whether an applicant previously worked to ‘censor’ free speech online.by Emma RothCloseEmma RothNews WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Emma RothDec 4, 2025, 7:30 PM UTCLinkShareImage: Cath Virginia / The VergeEmma RothCloseEmma RothPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Emma Roth is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO.The Trump administration has ordered US consulates to consider rejecting H-1B visa applicants involved in content moderation or “censorship,” according to a report from Reuters. A State Department cable viewed by the outlet says officials should check an applicant’s resume or LinkedIn profile for a job history involving moderation, fact-checking, online safety, compliance, and misinformation.As reported by Reuters, the cable says the policy applies to all visa applicants, but it’s directed at people applying for an H-1B visa who may have had a history of working in “social media or financial services companies involved in the suppression of protected expression.” Many tech companies, such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, hire highly skilled workers on H-1B visas.“If you uncover evidence an applicant was responsible for, or complicit in, censorship or attempted censorship of protected expression in the United States, you should pursue a finding that the applicant is ineligible,” the cable says, according to Reuters. “You must thoroughly explore their employment histories to ensure no participation in such activities.”President Donald Trump began tightening immigration policies earlier this year, instructing the State Department to screen the social media accounts of student visa applicants and later requiring a $100,000 fee alongside H-1B visa applications. Trump has since paused immigration applications from 19 “countries of concern” following the National Guard shooting in Washington, DC.RelatedTrump’s vague and confusing immigration policies are the pointICE is building a social media panopticon“People who study misinformation and work on content-moderation teams aren’t engaged in ‘censorship’ — they’re engaged in activities that the First Amendment was designed to protect,” Carrie DeCell, the senior staff attorney and legislative advisor at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, says in a statement. “This policy is incoherent and unconstitutional.”When asked about its new immigration vetting process, a State Department spokesperson told Reuters that the agency doesn’t comment on “allegedly leaked documents” but added that “we do not support aliens coming to the United States to work as censors muzzling Americans.” The State Department didn’t immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.Correction, December 4th: Corrected mention of “H1-B” visa to “H-1B.”Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Emma RothCloseEmma RothNews WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Emma RothNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsPolicyClosePolicyPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PolicyPoliticsClosePoliticsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PoliticsSocial MediaCloseSocial MediaPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All Social MediaSpeechCloseSpeechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All SpeechTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMost PopularMost PopularCrucial is shutting down — because Micron wants to sell its RAM and SSDs to AI companies insteadAntigravity’s 360-degree drone is here to help you forget DJISteam Machine today, Steam Phones tomorrowApple removed a Night mode photo feature from the iPhone 17 ProBMW iX3 first drive: a ‘New Class’ is in sessionThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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The Trump administration is reportedly implementing a policy that could significantly restrict the eligibility of individuals seeking H-1B visas, particularly those with backgrounds in content moderation and online safety. This shift in policy, outlined in a State Department cable leaked to Reuters, stems from a directive to scrutinize applicants’ past employment, specifically targeting roles involving “censorship” or “attempted censorship” of protected speech online. The cable mandates that consular officials thoroughly investigate an applicant’s resume and LinkedIn profiles for any history of involvement in activities categorized as “social media or financial services companies involved in the suppression of protected expression.” The administration’s rationale centers on the perceived threat of foreign nationals being utilized to “censor” American speech, aligning with a broader, ongoing effort to tighten immigration policies.

The policy’s implications are substantial, potentially impacting a significant number of skilled workers employed by technology giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft – companies that heavily rely on H-1B visas to attract globally-sourced talent. The cable’s explicit instruction to pursue findings of ineligibility based on evidence of prior involvement in “censorship” activities raises serious concerns regarding freedom of expression and the potential for selective enforcement. Critics, including the Knight First Amendment Institute, argue that the policy is fundamentally incoherent and unconstitutional, given the roles content moderation and online safety play in protecting and facilitating protected speech. The institute’s statement highlights the inherent tension between regulating online content and safeguarding First Amendment rights.

Furthermore, the State Department’s response to the Reuters report, dismissing the leaked document while asserting its opposition to “aliens coming to the United States to work as censors muzzling Americans,” underscores the administration’s unwavering stance. However, this official position fails to address the nuanced realities of content moderation – a critical function in combating misinformation, hate speech, and harmful content – and instead relies on a simplified and arguably misinformed interpretation of the issue.

This shift in policy represents a tangible escalation in the ongoing debate surrounding immigration and free speech in the digital age. The potential consequences extend beyond individual visa applications, carrying implications for innovation, technological advancement, and the global flow of talent. The administration’s focus on examining employment history for allegedly “censoring” activities reflects a broader ideological stance emphasizing the protection of domestic expression, while simultaneously introducing a significant layer of uncertainty and risk for those working in the vital, yet often contentious, field of online content management. The policy's broad application and potential for selective interpretation raise considerable legal and ethical challenges, demanding careful consideration of its impact on both immigration policy and fundamental freedoms.