US immigration officers must now weigh applicants’ support for “anti-American ideologies and activities” when deciding whether to grant certain immigration benefits, under new policy guidance released Tuesday by US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The updated policy, effective immediately, instructs officers to assign “overwhelmingly negative” weight to cases where applicants have “endorsed, promoted, supported, or otherwise espoused” views of terrorist groups or anti-American ideologies, including antisemitic organizations.

The policy affects cases where USCIS officers have discretionary authority to approve or deny immigration benefits after applicants meet basic legal requirements. In these situations, which include most green card applications, status changes, and extensions

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