Under new plans from the Trump administration, tourists entering the United States would be required to submit five years of social media activity, along with all phone numbers used in that period, email addresses from the last decade, and a full set of biometric data, including facial scans, fingerprints, DNA, and iris records. Visitors would also need to provide detailed information about family members, including children. The changes, outlined by Customs and Border Protection, aim to enforce an executive order signed on Trump’s first day in office, requiring measures to ensure visitors “do not bear hostile attitudes” toward the United States, its institutions, or its culture. The policy affects 42 visa-exempt countries, including key US allies, and comes as the nation prepares to co-host the World Cup next year.

Tourism has already declined sharply under Trump’s second term. California anticipates a 9 percent drop in foreign visitors, while Hollywood Boulevard and Las Vegas report significant decreases in foot traffic. Travel from Canada has fallen dramatically, with car crossings down 36.9 percent and airline travel down 25.8 percent compared to the previous year. National parks have imposed additional fees and limited free-entry days, compounding the decline. Critics argue these restrictions, combined with visa denials and high fees for skilled workers and foreign students, are discouraging travel and harming US soft power.

Human rights groups warn that the new measures risk turning the World Cup into a political and logistical challenge. USCIS is already reviewing social media for signs of “anti-American” views, detaining students expressing support for Pales-tinians, and limiting visa lengths for journalists and skilled workers. Customs and Border Protection retains the right to inspect personal devices, and refusal can result in denial of entry. Advocates say requiring millions of visitors to surrender private online activity undermines free expression and signals a tightening of US controls over who is allowed to enter the country, raising concerns about the administration’s broader approach to immigration enforcement.