Notice ::
Shawdesh desk: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officers under the Trump administration must consider the “positive attributes” of immigrants seeking U.S. citizenship — rather than just the absence of misconduct — according to a recent policy memo. The big picture: The Friday USCIS memo calls for a more “holistic” approach to assessing the “good moral character” of an immigrant seeking naturalization under an administration that has cracked down on immigration and pathways to citizenship in unprecedented ways. Driving the news: Good moral character is not a new requirement for naturalization. But under the USCIS memo, officers are instructed to put “greater emphasis” on an applicants’ “positive attributes and contributions.” Those can include factors like community involvement, family caregiving and educational attainment. “Going forward, USCIS officers must account for an alien’s positive attributes and not simply the absence of misconduct,” the memo states. Zoom out: The memo also calls for heightened scrutiny of disqualifying behaviors. Those include permanent bars to good moral character — like murder, aggravated felonies and genocide — and other offenses, like gambling and drug-related violations. But the memo also stipulates that other disqualifying actions could include behavior that is technically lawful but is “inconsistent with civic responsibility within the community,” like habitual traffic infractions or solicitation. The policy also instructs officers to consider factors that show an applicant could have demonstrated “genuine rehabilitation,” through actions like rectifying overdue child support or past-due taxes. The latest: USCIS on Tuesday announced it would also update guidance regarding factors officers should consider when handling immigration benefit requests — like adjusting their status — including “any involvement in anti-American or terrorist organizations.” It also said it had expanded the types of requests that will receive social media vetting which will include searches for “anti-American activity.” A Tuesday memo states that USCIS considers the endorsement, support or promotion of “the views of an anti-American or terrorist organization or group” to be “an overwhelmingly negative factor in USCIS discretionary analyses.” USCIS Spokesman Matthew J. Tragesser said in a statement that the agency is committed to rooting out “anti-Americanism.” Context: The test of “good moral character” has in the past largely been satisfied if applicants don’t have any of the disqualifying or criminal offenses detailed in U.S. immigration law, per CBS News. But the memo says “[e]valuating GMC involves more than a cursory mechanical review focused on the absence of wrongdoing.” It continues, “It entails a holistic assessment of an alien’s behavior, adherence to societal norms, and positive contributions that affirmatively demonstrate good moral character.” What they’re saying: Tragesser said in a statement provided to Axios that the agency is restoring “integrity” in the immigration system. “Today, USCIS is adding a new element to the naturalization process that ensures America’s newest citizens not only embrace America’s culture, history, and language but who also demonstrate Good Moral Character,” he said. Catch up quick: The Trump administration has launched a sweeping spectacle cracking down on illegal immigration, but it’s also significantly curtailed avenues to being in the country legally by terminating past legal protections and targeting refugee admissions. That effort has also included heightened scrutiny of legal immigrants and those who want to study in the U.S. Under an April policy, USCIS officials screen immigrants’ social media accounts for “antisemitic activity,” which includes content that indicates an applicant “endorsing, espousing, promoting, or supporting antisemitic terrorism, antisemitic terrorist organizations, or other antisemitic activity.”
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