‘Privilege, not a right’: US tightens citizenship rules with new ‘good moral character’ test

The directive, issued on Friday by USCIS, the agency that oversees the nation’s legal immigration system, marks the Trump administration’s latest move to tighten access to US immigration benefits.

Traditionally, legal immigrants with US permanent residency or green cards, have been able to apply for citizenship after a three- or five-year period, provided they pass English and civics tests and demonstrate “good moral character.”

For decades, that requirement was generally satisfied if applicants avoided serious crimes such as murder, aggravated felonies, drug offenses, or being deemed a “habitual drunkard.” But the new policy expands the definition, saying officers must go beyond a “cursory mechanical review focused on the absence of wrongdoing.”

Instead, they must conduct “a holistic assessment of an alien’s behavior, adherence to societal norms, and positive contributions that affirmatively demonstrate good moral character.”

Officers are instructed to put “greater emphasis” on positive attributes such as community involvement, family caregiving, educational attainment, lawful and stable employment, tax compliance, and the length of time spent in the US. At the same time, they are also ordered to apply “greater scrutiny” to conduct suggesting poor moral character, even when it falls short of crimes. That includes “reckless or habitual traffic infractions, or harassment or aggressive solicitation.”

The policy also directs officers to weigh evidence of rehabilitation where wrongdoing is present, such as completing probation, paying overdue taxes or child support, and letters of support from community members.

According to the guidelines, “aliens applying for naturalization must demonstrate that he or she has been and continues to be an individual of good moral character”.

Screening for signs of “anti-Americanism”

In another setback for immigrants seeking to live and work legally in the United States, Trump’s administration on Tuesday, announced that applicants will now be screened for signs of “anti-Americanism.”

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said officers will examine whether applicants for immigration benefits, including green cards, have “endorsed, promoted, supported, or otherwise espoused” anti-American, terrorist, or antisemitic views.

“America’s benefits should not be given to those who despise the country and promote anti-American ideologies,” USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser said in a statement. He further clarified, “Immigration benefits, including to live and work in the United States remain a privilege, not a right.”

The USCIS has not issued a detailed list defining what constitutes anti-Americanism, leaving uncertainty about how and when these directives will be applied.

Over the past decade, the US has naturalised between 6,00,000 and 1 million immigrants annually, according to USCIS data.

While the Trump administration’s hardline stance on illegal immigration — from deploying troops at the southern border to expanding deportations — has dominated headlines, it has also steadily pursued restrictions on legal immigration. Those include scaling back refugee admissions, scrapping Biden-era visa programs, tightening vetting procedures, and broadening social media reviews of applicants.

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