The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has proposed a requirement for foreign tourists to submit five years of social media history as part of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) process. This proposal would affect travelers from 42 countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Japan, Australia, and Germany, who currently can visit the U.S. without a visa for up to 90 days under the Visa Waiver Program.

The proposal has sparked considerable backlash from travelers, civil rights organizations, and industry professionals, who express concerns about its implications for privacy, free expression, and the international tourism sector. Privacy advocates argue that this requirement reflects a broader trend of increasing surveillance at borders, which they contend has not effectively enhanced security but has infringed on civil liberties and chilled free speech. Sophia Cope, a staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, noted that mandatory disclosure of social media history could exacerbate existing civil liberties issues, particularly if it mirrors expectations placed on student visa applicants to make private social media accounts public.

Migration expert Petra Molnar criticized the proposal as part of a pattern of excessive border surveillance that extends beyond reasonable travel screening, emphasizing that social media data reveals personal beliefs and interactions that should not be subject to government scrutiny. Experts warn that the proposed policy could lead to discriminatory profiling, particularly for individuals from certain national, religious, or political backgrounds, normalizing a reality where privacy is compromised at borders, which should ideally uphold strong human rights protections.

Concerns have also been raised about the potential negative impact on the U.S. tourism industry, which has already seen a decline in international visitors. The World Travel & Tourism Council previously estimated a loss of $12.5 billion in international visitor spending for the year. Industry experts predict that the new policy could deter tourists, particularly from regions with strong privacy laws, leading to a significant decrease in travel to the U.S.

In a related discussion, CNN This Morning featured a segment on the case of Army veteran Sae Joon Park, who had received a Purple Heart for his service. The segment highlighted the complexities of U.S. immigration policies and the actions of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under Secretary Kristi Noem. Congressman Seth Magaziner confronted Noem about Park's deportation, asserting that he had been sent back to Korea, a country he had not lived in since childhood. However, it was revealed that Park had self-deported, anticipating detention and deportation due to his criminal record, which included convictions for drug possession and bail jumping.

This situation underscores the complexities of immigration law, particularly how criminal convictions can impact an individual's status and the broader implications for veterans who may face deportation despite their service to the country. The segment also included protests against ICE raids and deportations, reflecting ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the U.S.