The Trump administration moved to implement a “good moral character” evaluation for those undergoing the naturalization process.
In a memorandum dated August 15, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said “aliens applying for naturalization must demonstrate that he or she has been and continues to be an individual of good moral character (GMC).”
“Evaluating GMC involves more than a cursory mechanical review focused on the absence of wrongdoing. It entails a holistic assessment of an alien’s behavior, adherence to societal norms, and positive contributions that affirmatively demonstrate good moral character,” the agency wrote, explaining the memo serves as charting an “improved direction” for determining GMC.
“The regulations and policy affirm that 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 reads. “Thus, GMC has generally meant a character commensurate with the standards of average citizens of the community in which the alien resides.” Moving forward, however, USCIS offers must “account for an alien’s positive attributes and not simply the absence of misconduct.”
The agency will move to consider factors such as “sustained community involvement and contributions in the United States,” familial connections and responsibility in the U.S., education, stable and legal employment history and achievement, length of legal residence in the U.S, and compliance with tax laws and financial matters in the country.
Officers will also evaluate areas of wrongdoing and work to ensure individuals are “properly rehabilitated and reformed.”
According to the agency, this approach will allow 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.”
