Overview
- Nationals of the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries would have to provide five years of social‑media history on ESTA applications.
- In addition, applicants would list phone numbers used over five years, email addresses from the past ten years, and detailed family information.
- The proposal was published on December 10 and is slated to take effect on February 8, 2026, unless it is blocked in court.
- President Trump cites security as the rationale, while immigration lawyers question effectiveness and warn of longer processing times and harder‑to‑contest refusals.
- Travel industry groups say the change could deter visitors and slow approvals as foreign arrivals fall in 2025, raising concerns before the 2026 World Cup.