The Trump administration is considering stricter vetting for H-1B visa applicants, focusing on individuals involved in censorship of free speech, according to a State Department cable obtained by Bloomberg.

The guidance, sent to US missions abroad on December 2, urges consular officers to flag applicants who may have complied with foreign demands for content moderation or implemented policies inconsistent with freedom of expression. H-1B visas, widely used in the tech and financial sectors, are particularly highlighted due to the likelihood that holders work in positions affecting social media and online content.

The cable instructs officers to review resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and industry publications to assess applicants’ involvement in potential suppression of protected expression. It warns: “BE ON THE LOOKOUT: APPLICANTS RESPONSIBLE FOR OR COMPLICIT IN CENSORSHIP OF AMERICANS.”

The move comes amid broader actions by the administration to curb legal migration, including the introduction of a 100,000 US dollars H-1B application fee in September. Some measures follow heightened security concerns after a National Guard member was killed near the White House last month.

Bloomberg reports that this initiative reflects a continuation of earlier guidance from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who in June instructed consular officers to scrutinise social media activity for foreigners seeking to study at Harvard University. Rubio suggested that applicants’ limited online presence could, in some cases, justify a visa denial.