Article Summary

The Trump administration plans to scrutinize US citizenship applications more closely by expanding the scope of 'good moral character' assessments for naturalization. USCIS officers are now instructed to conduct a holistic review of an applicant's behavior, adherence to societal norms, and positive contributions, moving beyond a mechanical check for criminal offenses. This policy change aims to restrict access to immigration benefits by increasing the requirements for legal immigrants seeking citizenship.

TNP AI: Key Insights

This policy change significantly raises the bar for legal immigrants, including those who transitioned from skilled visas, seeking naturalization. Previously, the 'good moral character' assessment primarily focused on the absence of specific criminal offenses; now, officers are directed to conduct a 'holistic assessment' that includes 'adherence to societal norms' and 'positive contributions.' This subjective expansion could lead to longer processing times, increased requests for evidence, and potentially higher denial rates based on factors beyond clear legal infractions.

The shift from a largely objective checklist to a subjective 'holistic assessment' represents a significant tightening of naturalization requirements, reflecting a broader trend of the administration's efforts to restrict immigration benefits. This change will likely create greater anxiety for applicants and could lead to legal challenges over the vagueness and potential for inconsistent application of the new guidelines, impacting the predictability of the citizenship process for thousands of skilled professionals.