The government is now looking into the process of checking the social media activities of an immigrant. The purpose of this is to find a solution in closing the security gaps within the U.S. visa system as reported in Time.
The Homeland Security and State department were tasked to examine the process of screening for individuals applying for visas. They were asked to get back with results and exact recommendations, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.
The Homeland Security Department is checking the policies on when the authorities can include the social media posts as part of the selection process in granting visas.
Earnest also added, "I think the president's top priority here is the national security and safety of the American people." He continued, "And that will continue to be the case with ensuring that this K-1 visa program is effectively implemented."
The Pakistani woman responsible for the San Bernardino shooting in California, came to the country last 2014 on a fiancé visa.
A report from New York Times said that Tasheen Malik openly talked about violent jihad on social media. If this had been known earlier, the woman's entry in the U.S. could have been stopped. However, reviewing social media posts are not routinely done by immigration officials.
Malik had a one in-person interview in her country of origin, Pakistan. Then another one was conducted after marrying Farook. Her fingerprints and background information were also obtained.
The authorities also claimed that the couple sent messages to each other online. Most of their discussion was about jihad and martyrdom.
Malik's social activities and online discussions about jihad increased the concerns about the government's background check processes which were previously deemed as rigorous.
The department said that last year the three pilot programs that used social media reviews were launched. The department is still finding ways to look at social media posts and its relevance.
