Trump Administration Tightens “Good Moral Character” Requirement for US Citizenship
The Trump administration is tightening the rules for immigrants seeking U.S. citizenship by placing a higher emphasis on demonstrating “good moral character.” This update, outlined in a recent directive from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), signals a broader interpretation that has raised concerns among immigration professionals.
A New, More Rigorous Approach
In a memo released last Friday, USCIS instructed officers to adopt a holistic approach when evaluating naturalization applicants. Rather than merely ensuring applicants have no criminal or unethical history, officers must now assess affirmative qualities and contributions that signal worthiness to hold U.S. citizenship.
USCIS spokesperson Matthew J. Tragesser stated, “U.S. citizenship is the gold standard—it should only be offered to the world’s best of the best.”
Legal Experts Raise Concerns
Immigration lawyers warn that the policy introduces uncertainty and subjectivity into the process:
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Emily Ryo, a law and sociology expert at Duke University, criticized the ambiguity in terms like “affirmatively establish” and “worthy”, questioning the evidence required and how officials will evaluate it.
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Susan Ramos, an immigration attorney from Arizona, called the policy “troubling,” noting it effectively changes naturalization standards without proper public consultation. She questioned how much community service or achievement will be enough to tip the scales.
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Kathrin Mautino, a California-based immigration lawyer, said the broader language grants officers more authority to probe deeply into applicants' private lives—making decisions harder to challenge legally.
Stricter Rules on Tax and Support Obligations
The updated directive also tightens existing requirements:
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Previously, applicants with past-due taxes only needed a payment plan to fulfill the criteria.
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Under the new rules, full payment of back taxes and even child-support is mandated.
USCIS claims these changes ensure that individuals who engaged in wrongdoing are fully reformed before receiving citizenship.
More Scrutiny for Immigration Applicants
This shift comes amid broader efforts by the Trump administration to impose stricter vetting across immigration processes:
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In May, the State Department paused visa interviews and expanded social media reviews of international student applicants for signs of “hostile attitudes.”
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Now, USCIS is similarly expanding screening to include searches for “anti-American” views among applicants seeking immigration benefits.
New Requirement: USCIS now requires immigrants to actively demonstrate positive traits, not just the absence of wrongdoing.
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Ambiguity Rears: The term "worthiness" and evaluation standards remain unclear, raising legal and procedural concerns.
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Stricter Financial Checks: Full compliance with tax and support obligations is now mandatory.
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Expanded Background Screening: The vetting process now includes broader character assessments, including political or cultural attitudes.