Trump Administration Plans Notable Changes To Visa Vetting

On December 10, 2025, the Trump Administration announced a new plan to heighten the screening requirements for temporary visitors from visa-waiver countries as part of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Under the proposal, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) would for the first time require visitors from close partner countries that participate in ESTA to provide social media data and other personally identifying information to the government.

This announcement raises questions about the scope of these new requirements and how the government will implement them in practice. The proposed requirements will likely negatively impact the aviation and tourism industries, as their customers disproportionately rely on ESTA status, and companies in these industries often shepherd individuals through the ESTA process. The US Travel Association—a national nonprofit organization representing the travel industry—said in a statement that it was