Why is the Trump administration targeting foreign journalists?

A decades-old Reagan-era policy allowed foreign journalists to remain in the U.S. as long as their work required. This summer, the Department of Homeland Security said it will impose tighter visa rules that could be used to pressure reporters, including by limiting initial admission to 240 days—under eight months. The change would end the flexible approach used across both Republican and Democratic administrations. DHS says the rules are needed for “national security and fraud prevention,” but it acknowledged a lack of public data on fraud and overstays. The proposal would force frequent extension applications every 240 days and more intrusive scrutiny, raising concerns about targeting under the First Amendment.