The White House extended the evaluation criteria to naturalize, which generates doubts among experts due to the greatest discretion in the process.
The government of Donald Trump modified the standard of “Good moral behavior” required to immigrants seeking American citizenship. The measure, driven through a memorandum of the Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS)introduces a broader and more subjective criterion that, according to specialists in immigration law, adds uncertainty to the naturalization process.
According to the new guideline, USCIS officials must assess in a “holistic” way The life of the applicantstaking into account both the positive and negative aspects of his career. This implies that citizens aspiring should not only demonstrate the absence of undue behaviors, but also prove that they are “Worthy” of assuming the rights and responsibilities of being citizens of the United States.
US Citizenship
scope.
Until now, complying with latest tax payment plans was enough to prove good conduct. However, updated regulations require The total payment of tax debts and obligations such as child support. It also expands behaviors that can be considered negative, including multiple Traffic infractions or acts of harassmentalthough without accurately defining these parameters.
Criticism for discretion and greater control
Immigration lawyers warned that change represents a Undercover hardening of the requirementsby not being clearly delimited the evaluation criteria. The lack of concrete definitions, argue, grants greater discretion to officials and makes it difficult for applicants to challenge negative decisions.
Donald Trump
The adjustment adds to other measures promoted by the Trump administration for reinforce migratory control. Among them, The social networks review of visa applicants and migratory benefitsas well as reinforcement in filters to detect possible attitudes considered “Antiestadounidenses.”
With this policy, the government seeks raise the standard for those who aspire to citizensbut the debate revolves around the impact it will have on thousands of immigrants who could see their process frustrated by increasingly strict and subjective criteria.
Source: Ambito
