Top US immigration official defends new rule targeting 'anti-American' views in immigration benefits

A new rule allowing a U.S. immigration agency to scrutinize a person's “anti-American” views when applying for a green card or other benefits isn't designed to target political beliefs, but to identify support for terrorist activity, the organization's director told The Associated Press. In a wide-ranging interview on Monday, the director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Joseph Edlow, delved into the agency's contentious policy — announced last month — which allows officers to decide whether a foreigner applying for a certain benefit has endorsed what they believe are anti-American views. Edlow also detailed problems he sees with a training program that's popular with international students, but hated by some Trump supporters.