Krishnamoorthi Warns DHS Proposal Could Aid CCP, Harm U.S. Competitiveness

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem expressing concern over a new DHS proposal that would require travelers from 42 long-standing Visa Waiver Program countries to submit unprecedented levels of personal information before entering the United States.

Under the proposal, visitors would be required to provide five years of social media history, ten years of email addresses, extensive family details, biometric data, and other sensitive personal information. Currently, travelers to the U.S. from Visa Waiver countries only provide basic contact and eligibility information through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), and social media disclosure has remained optional since 2016. At a time when the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has seen a dramatic increase in inbound tourism, invasive screening of visitors from friendly countries jeopardies driving global talent and tourism dollars away from the United States and raises serious risks of reciprocity.

“The Trump Administration’s policies are starting to meaningfully alter how international tourists and students see the U.S.,” the letter reads. “According to a December survey by the non-governmental organization, Stop AAPI Hate, only 4% of international students said they feel very or extremely safe in the U.S. under the current climate, while 90% reported being moderately, very, or extremely fearful about their student visa status.”

The letter continues: “The stakes are clear. America’s leadership in tourism and education depends on open channels for collaboration between allied nations, predictable entry procedures for our friends, and the confidence of international partners. This proposal, in its current form, risks harming all three.” 

Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi requests answers to the following questions no later than January 15, 2026.

1. What guidance has DHS provided for travelers who do not maintain social media accounts, and how does the Department ensure that the absence of social media activity does not result in adverse or discriminatory treatment during the screening process?
2. What standards, criteria, or analytical frameworks is DHS using to review and assess collected information under the new proposal?
3. Is DHS concerned that friends and allies may impose reciprocal requirements on U.S. citizens wishing to travel abroad?
4. Has DHS conducted any analysis of how the proposal will impact student and tourist travel to the U.S., and if so, what is the estimated economic impact? 

Read the full letter HERE.