Irish American org concerned new visa vetting will put J1 exchange at risk

The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), the oldest and largest Irish Catholic organization in the US, expressed its deep concern on Thursday, July 3, about new vetting procedures for visa applicants.

The new directive, announced on June 23, requires consular officers to review up to five years of social-media activity for every F, M, and J visa applicant.

The new procedures were criticized by Ireland's Taoiseach and Tánaiste, the latter of whom said he intends to raise the matter with the new US Ambassador to Ireland Edward Walsh.

The AOH said on Thursday: "By granting reviewing officers broad discretionary authority to flag 'any indications of hostility … or advocacy' without clear standards, the policy threatens one of the United States’ most successful cultural and economic partnerships with Ireland."

“We understand the need for security and support measures that protect our nation," Neil F. Cosgrove, Political Education Chair of the AOH, said on Thursday.

“But without clear, objective criteria—and human oversight of AI screenings—we risk eroding the integrity of the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program, chilling participation among young applicants, depriving U.S. government, businesses, educational and cultural institutions of essential summer interns, and weakening the longstanding ties that bind our nations.”

Cosgrove added: “For generations, J-1 alumni like former President Mary McAleese have returned home enriched by their American experience — bringing back not only professional skills but enduring friendships and deeper mutual understanding.

“This program is a linchpin of U.S.–Ireland goodwill, fostering personal connections that strengthen our diplomatic and cultural bonds.”

The AOH outlined its key concerns: 

• Excessive Discretion: Officers may reach inconsistent decisions, as terms like “hostility” and “advocacy” lack objective benchmarks.
• Adolescent Content Risk: The five-year look-back for college-age applicants reaches posts they made as teenagers (ages 13–17), treating youthful social-media activity from before maturity as potential security threats.
• AI False Positives: Given the volume of applicants and the vast data set—five years of social-media activity per person—we anticipate AI screening will be used extensively and is prone to error. In April 2025, Ph.D. student Suguru Onda was wrongly flagged by an AI-driven criminal-records check over a minor fishing-limit citation in his home country of Japan, leading to an abrupt visa cancellation.
• Economic & Cultural Impact: J-1 participants fuel critical U.S. hospitality, tourism, cultural, educational, and business sectors while fostering deep transatlantic understanding.

The AOH has shared the following recommendations:

• Publish a specific, measurable vetting framework with clear triggers, timeframes, and appeal rights.
• Exclude any social-media content created before age 18 from routine review.
• Require human-in-the-loop review for AI-generated flagged content, and publish quarterly reports detailing the number of AI screenings conducted, flags raised, denials issued, and appeal outcomes.

The AOH is now calling on Congress and the Administration to adopt these reforms immediately, ensuring that U.S.–Ireland educational and cultural ties remain strong, fair, and secure.