The Trump administration has introduced a groundbreaking proposal that would mandate international travelers to disclose extensive digital histories before entering the United States. Published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, the initiative would require all visitors to provide five years of social media activity, five-year histories of personal and business phone numbers, ten-year records of email addresses, and residential information for family members.
This comprehensive digital screening would apply universally to both visa-required travelers and those from Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) countries, including the United Kingdom. The proposal, advanced by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) under the Department of Homeland Security, has initiated a 60-day public commentary period allowing federal agencies and citizens to evaluate the potential implications.
Following the commentary phase, agencies will conduct thorough analysis of submitted feedback before finalizing regulations with detailed explanations of modifications. The implemented rules would then be codified into the Code of Federal Regulations, establishing permanent entry requirements.
This proposed policy could significantly impact international tourism, particularly affecting the anticipated five million visitors expected for the 2026 World Cup jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The measures follow previous travel restrictions that resulted in detained or refused European visitors earlier this year.
Concurrently, CBP is proposing additional biometric requirements, including voluntary facial image collection and geolocation tracking to verify departure compliance. The agency plans to implement sophisticated verification technology, including live photo authentication and geolocation confirmation systems.
Furthermore, CBP intends to replace the current ESTA website application with a mandatory mobile application, citing security enhancements and operational efficiency. The agency asserts that these measures address vulnerabilities exploited by malicious actors who submit low-quality photographs or passport images to evade detection.