Srinagar, March 25 -- The move, seen as an extension of the existing visa scrutiny policy, would impact millions of legal residents, including many Indians and other immigrants who have built lives in the United States. Critics argue that this could stifle free speech, discourage political activism, and even be used to bar government critics from securing permanent residency.

The proposal, announced in a notice released on March 5, is currently open for public comment. The administration justifies the policy as necessary for "national security screening", but opponents warn it could be a tool for ideological policing.

Under a 2019 policy introduced by Trump during his first term, visa applicants from abroad were required to disclose the...