US labor unions sue Trump administration over AI surveillance of visa holders' social media
Three U.S. labor unions have filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the Trump administration is using AI and social media surveillance to monitor and suppress political speech among visa holders and lawful permanent residents. The unions claim the program, run by the State Department and Homeland Security, targets people expressing disfavored political views and has deterred members from posting online.
What happened
Three U.S. labor unions—the United Auto Workers (UAW), Communications Workers of America (CWA), and American Federation of Teachers (AFT)—filed a federal lawsuit in the Southern District of New York on October 16, 2025, against the Departments of State and Homeland Security.
The complaint alleges that the government operates an artificial intelligence-powered surveillance program that monitors the social media accounts of visa holders and lawful permanent residents to identify and target those expressing disfavored viewpoints, including criticism of the United States, support for Palestine, or opposition to U.S. foreign policy.
Reported impact
The unions claim the surveillance program has had a chilling effect on lawful expression among noncitizens, coupled with a public campaign of intimidation warning that those posting anti-American or anti-Israel content risk deportation or visa revocation.
According to a survey cited in the complaint, 80% of UAW members with visas who were aware of the program reported modifying their social media activity, and 40% of similarly situated CWA members reported the same.
Index analysis
The lawsuit raises constitutional questions about whether noncitizens living lawfully in the United States enjoy the same First Amendment protections as citizens, and whether immigration enforcement can be used to silence dissenting viewpoints.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation argued that the program violates the First Amendment and the Administrative Procedure Act, noting that AI tools allow the government to analyze social media at a scale previously impossible through human review alone.
Governance controls
The plaintiffs have requested that a New York judge issue an order to stop the program.
The unions argue that the surveillance program has undermined their ability to associate with their members and potential members.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.