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US visa applicants could be forced to hand over their social media passwords before being allowed in to the country.

People from the seven Muslim-majority nations targeted in Donald Trump’s travel ban may have to give their Facebook details to US embassies, under proposals being considered by authorities.

John Kelly, the US Homeland Security chief appointed by President Trump, said the move was one of several steps which could be introduced in a bid to vet immigrants coming to the US.

He said the aim would be to check out the web use of US visa applicants to “see what they do on the internet”.

Donald Trump’s controversial immigration crackdown has since been suspended by a US judge, a decision which was backed by the Court of Appeals.

Retired Marine Corps general Mr Kelly told a hearing of the Homeland Security Committee: "We're looking at some enhanced or some additional screening.

"We may want to get on their social media, with passwords.

"It's very hard to truly vet these people in these countries, the seven countries.

"But if they come in, we want to say, what websites do they visit, and give us your passwords. So we can see what they do on the internet."

Mr Kelly said anyone who did not comply could be barred from entering the US, Sky News reported.

He added: “These are the things we are thinking about. But over there we can ask them for this kind of information and if they truly want to come to America, then they will cooperate. If not, next in line."