Lawyers Urge Immigrant Creators to Purge Political Content Amid Rising Scrutiny: 'Scrub Your Socials'

As the Trump administarion intensifies its crackdown on immigration, lawyers are advising non-citizen content creators to avoid politically sensitive topics on social media to reduce the risk of detention or deportation, a new report by The Miami Herald reveals.

"Every chance I get to tell them to scrub their socials—even for likes and reposts of innocuous content like JD Vance or anti-war memes—I do," said immigration lawyer Genie Doi, who represents several influencers, to the outlet. She and other attorneys are warning that even seemingly apolitical content could draw unwanted scrutiny.

There are several recent examples that illustrate the situation for non-citizen influencers in the U.S. Khaby Lame, the world's most-followed TikTok creator, was detained by immigration agents in Las Vegas in June for overstaying his visa. Lame, a Senegalese-born Italian citizen known for silent videos mocking complex "life hacks," voluntarily left the country without a deportation order, allowing him to return in the future.

Bo Loudon, a conservative influencer who claims ties to Barron Trump, later said he had tipped off U.S. authorities and described Lame as a "far-left influencer." Lame has not publicly responded.

Another notorious case is that of Hasan Piker, a U.S. citizen and political commentator with millions of followers on Twitch and other platforms, who said he was detained and questioned at Chicago O'Hare Airport about his political views, particularly on Palestine and Trump.

"The goal was to threaten people who might also want to speak out and go to protests regardless of their citizenship status," Piker told Bloomberg after the incident. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, however, publicly denied targeting Piker through a post on X:

Finally, Derek Guy, a fashion critic known for mocking conservative politicians, revealed his undocumented status online in June. "The lack of legal immigration has totally shaped my life," Guy posted on X. The disclosure prompted online backlash from right-wing figures and even Vice President JD Vance, who responded with a menacing meme of actor Jack Nicholson nodding menacingly. Guy declined to comment further.

Legal experts consulted by the Herald say scrutiny extends to visa applications and border crossings. "They are examining everybody's social media," said David Melik Telfer, a Los Angeles-based attorney. "If your number one priority is not being detained and remaining in the U.S., I would certainly not attend any protest."

Amid growing polarization, some advertisers have also become wary of politically outspoken creators. "Brands have been less vocal about political and social issues," said Jasmine Enberg, principal analyst at eMarketer.

A 2024 Pew Research study found that one in five Americans get their news from influencers, making their role in public discourse significant. But under the current climate, even digital fame comes with rising legal risks.