Latest news with #MatthewJ.Tragesser
Axios
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Axios
Citizenship reviews now ask immigrants to show "positive contributions" to U.S.
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: It 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. 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: USCIS Spokesman Matthew J. 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.
The Hill
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump administration heightens ‘good moral character' standards for potential US citizens
The Trump administration is ordering officers at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to take a more 'holistic' approach when determining whether to award U.S. citizenship to immigrants, saying they must weigh more factors in determining whether an applicant has 'good moral character.' The Friday memo from USCIS said officers must now weigh not just any disqualifying behavior but whether those seeking to naturalize are in good standing in their community. 'Going forward, USCIS officers must account for an alien's positive attributes and not simply the absence of misconduct,' the memo states. U.S. law has long prevented those convicted of murder and other serious violent crimes from gaining U.S. citizenship and applicants were already required to be considered as having good moral character. But the new memo also encourages officers to consider rejecting applicants with other convictions, including drug use or two or more convictions for driving under the influence. Officers are also encouraged to weigh conduct that may not be illegal but frowned upon, such as 'reckless or habitual traffic infractions' or soliciting. 'Repeated criminal conduct such as multiple DUI convictions undermines moral character unless rebutted by affirmative evidence of reform,' the memo states. 'In assessing conditional bars officers have authority—and now explicit directive—to weigh all relevant evidence, both adverse and favorable, before granting or denying naturalization.' Officers are also urged to consider evidence of reform, including compliance with court orders, payment of lapses in taxes of child support payments, or 'community testimony' from those who can assure their good character. The memo also encourages the officers to look at other 'positive factors,' such as 'sustained community involvement,' caregiving or raising a family, education and career achievements, and paying taxes. 'GMC findings must go beyond the absence of disqualifying acts, it must reflect a genuine positive assessment of who the alien is and how they have lived in their community,' the memo states, using an abbreviation for good moral character. Those seeking to naturalize already face multiple steps to doing so, including years of lawful presence in the U.S., compliance with U.S. laws, and passing a test on U.S. civics often conducted in English. 'U.S. citizenship is the gold standard of citizenship—it should only be offered to the world's best of the best,' USCIS Spokesman Matthew J. Tragesser said in a statement.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Green Card Holders Face US Citizenship Application Review Change
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Immigration officers have been ordered by the Trump administration to apply a more holistic assessment of "good moral character" when deciding on naturalization applications, according to a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policy memorandum. USCIS spokesman Matthew J. Tragesser told Newsweek the memo "ensures that USCIS officers are accounting for an alien's positive contributions to American society." Why It Matters The "good moral character" determination has long been a statutory requirement for naturalization and has been judged primarily by reference to listed criminal offenses and disqualifying conduct in immigration law. But officers will not be using a broader, less predictable assessment of good moral character in these assessments, USCIS said last month. This could upend the application process for green card holders hoping to become naturalized citizens. What To Know USCIS wrote in the memorandum that evaluating good moral character should involve "more than a cursory mechanical review focused on the absence of wrongdoing" but entail "a holistic assessment of an alien's behavior, adherence to societal norms, and positive contributions that affirmatively demonstrate good moral character." A greater emphasis will be placed on positive attributes and contributions such as community involvement, family caregiving, educational attainment, stable and lawful employment history, length of lawful residency in the U.S. and compliance with tax obligations and financial responsibility, USCIS said. An immigrant from Venezuela tries to access the CBP One application on January 21, 2025, in Nogales, Mexico. An immigrant from Venezuela tries to access the CBP One application on January 21, 2025, in Nogales, addition to violent crimes, disqualifications could include controlled substance violations, multiple DUI convictions, false claims to citizenship, unlawful voting, or "any other acts that are contrary to the average behavior of citizens in the jurisdiction where aliens reside." "These could be actions that, while technically lawful, may be inconsistent with civic responsibility within the community, such as reckless or habitual traffic infractions, or harassment or aggressive solicitation," the memorandum reads. Proper rehabilitation will also be considered for those who have engaged in wrongdoing. This could include rectifying overdue child support payments, probation compliance, community testimony attesting to their good moral character, mentoring those with similar pasts, repayment of benefit overpayment or repayment of taxes. What People Are Saying USCIS spokesman Matthew J. Tragesser told Newsweek: "U.S. citizenship is the gold standard of citizenship—it should only be offered to the world's best of the best. 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. This memo ensures that USCIS officers are accounting for an alien's positive contributions to American society—including community involvement, achievements, and financial responsibility rather than the absence of their misconduct. USCIS will continue to restore integrity in the nation's immigration system—especially when it comes to the prestigious privilege of citizenship." USCIS wrote in the memorandum: "This approach will empower USCIS officers to review the complete history of aliens seeking naturalization, where no regulatory or statutory bars exist, and require such aliens to present their full story, demonstrating how their life aligns with a pattern of behavior that is consistent with the current ethical standards and expectations of the community in which they reside." What Happens Next The August 15 memorandum stated that these changes will be in effect moving forward. Officers "must" take a holistic approach "in evaluating whether or not an alien seeking naturalization has affirmatively established that he or she has met their burden of establishing that they are worthy of assuming the rights and responsibilities of United States Citizenship," according to USCIS.
