Labor Unions Sue U.S. Government Over Surveillance of Visa Holders’ Social Media

Labor unions filed a lawsuit on Thursday against the U.S. government, accusing the Trump administration of violating the First Amendment rights of individuals lawfully residing in the country by monitoring their social media posts—including those critical of Israel.

The lawsuit is the latest legal challenge to the sweeping immigration actions launched since President Donald Trump took office in January, which have led to the deportation of migrants, including some holding valid U.S. visas.

Earlier this week, the State Department said it had revoked the visas of at least six people over social media comments related to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

The suit, filed in federal court in New York, was brought by three major labor unions — the United Auto Workers (UAW), Communications Workers of America (CWA), and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) — against the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the heads of those agencies.

Responding to a request for comment, State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said, “The United States has no obligation to allow foreign nationals into our country to spread anti-American, pro-terrorist, or antisemitic hate, or to incite violence. We will continue revoking visas of those who endanger the safety of our citizens.”

Trump administration officials have long argued that foreign nationals do not enjoy the same constitutional rights as U.S. citizens and that a visa is a privilege, not a right.

The unions’ complaint cites high-profile cases and official statements, alleging that the government runs a program using artificial intelligence and other automated tools to monitor visa holders’ posts and to flag individuals critical of the U.S. government, its culture, or what it deems “hate-fueled ideology.”

The filing claims that the administration has broadly defined “support for terrorism” to include criticism of U.S. backing for Israel, condemnation of Israeli actions, and expressions of solidarity with Palestinians — and has used this interpretation to justify visa cancellations.

Among the examples cited is Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder who was detained for months before being released in June. The government allegedly tried to deport him for participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

According to the unions, the policy has created a climate of fear among thousands of their members, silencing those who hold dissenting views.

The complaint states that many union members have stopped expressing opinions publicly because “the government has both promised and demonstrated that saying the wrong thing can bring life-altering immigration consequences — especially for visa holders and lawful permanent residents.”