🎙️ American labor unions sue the Trump administration for monitoring visa holders' social media activity.

Today, KeyApply shares some very hot news from the US - three major US labor unions have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for "monitoring and punishing visa holders solely for social media posts."

According to Reuters, the lawsuit, filed on October 16, 2025, opposes a program called “ Catch-and-Revoke ,” which allows the government to monitor social media posts, comments, or likes of visa holders and revoke visas if it detects content that is “anti-American” or “disrupts public order.”

🎯 Let's find out:

1. Who is behind this lawsuit?
2. Why do unions intervene?
3. Impact on immigrant communities, particularly international students and skilled workers.
4. And finally, can Canada become a safer destination?

🧩 CASE DETAILS

1. Who is suing?

According to Reuters, three major unions—AFT (American Federation of Teachers), SEIU (Service Employees International Union), and AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees)—have joined forces with the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) to file a lawsuit. These organizations have millions of members, including many foreign workers legally employed in the United States.

2. Who are they suing?

The defendants are the U.S. State Department and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), under the Trump administration's second term.

According to the lawsuit, the government has expanded its online surveillance program and automatically revoked the visas of foreigners who make statements deemed "suspicious regarding national security."

3. The Verge adds:

The Verge revealed details that the "Catch-and-Revoke" system, developed since 2024, uses AI to analyze the semantics of posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The EFF argues that this constitutes a serious violation of the First Amendment's rights to freedom of speech and the due process.

4. The Washington Post confirms:

According to The Washington Post, at least six visas were revoked after individuals commented on far-right political commentator Charlie Kirk. This proves that surveillance and sanctions are actually happening, not just theoretical concerns.

⚖️ ANALYSIS

1. Why are the unions speaking out?

• First, many union members are legal immigrants – they hold H-1B, H-2B, L-1, or J-1 work visas.
• Secondly, the union argues that social media monitoring spreads fear, making workers hesitant to share information or voice concerns about working conditions or rights.

2. Legal risks

• On the government's side, they invoked Immigration Act 212(a), which allows for visa revocation if there is a "threat to security."
• But EFF lawyers countered: "Political posts, even if dissenting, cannot be considered a threat to security."

3. In terms of human rights

• The ability of AI to read and interpret human emotions may be inaccurate.
• For example, a sarcastic post or the sharing of a satirical meme might be misinterpreted as "dissent."
• This violates the principle of administrative fairness because there is no transparent complaint mechanism.

4. Impact on Vietnamese people and the international community

• People who are in the U.S. on student visas (F-1), work visas (H-1B, L-1), etc., may all be affected.
• If they have ever shared posts containing political, religious, or satirical content, their immigration application or visa extension may be reviewed.

💬 QUESTION

1. Have you ever deleted an old post because you were worried it might affect your visa?
2. In your opinion, should the government be allowed to view social media accounts when reviewing visa applications?
3. If Canada, Australia, or Europe also implement this measure, how should immigrants respond?

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