Trump expands ‘good moral character’ test to become a U.S. citizen. Here’s what it means
Trump administration revises ‘good moral character’ citizenship requirement
- The Trump administration is expanding the “good moral character” test for US citizenship, requiring a “holistic assessment” of applicants' behavior and contributions.
- US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers will now consider positive attributes like community involvement and education, alongside negative factors such as repeated traffic infractions or harassment, even if lawful.
- A USCIS spokesperson stated that US citizenship should be reserved for “the world’s best of the best” and that the agency screens for “anti-American activity” when vetting applications.
- This policy is part of Trump's broader agenda to crack down on immigration, which includes potential mass deportations and reviewing immigrants' social media for reasons to reject applications.
- Experts suggest the new guidance aims to restrict legal immigration by broadening grounds for denial, with concerns that its discretionary nature could lead to arbitrary enforcement.