Trump Administration Reintroduces Neighbourhood Investigations for Foreign Nationals Applying for US Citizenship

A practice that was deemed outdated in 1991 has been revived by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), highlighting the complexities of the naturalization process. The new policy memo outlines guidelines for neighbourhood investigations, aimed at verifying an applicant's eligibility for American citizenship by scrutinizing their residency, moral character, and attachment to the US Constitution. Immigration attorneys and experts are raising concerns that these checks may instill fear and reinforce negative stereotypes about immigrant communities.

Key Takeaways:

• The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has reintroduced neighbourhood investigations for foreign nationals applying for US citizenship, a practice that was abandoned in 1991.
• The policy memo requires USCIS to consider testimonial letters from neighbours, employers, co-workers, and business associates to corroborate an applicant's eligibility for naturalization.
• Immigration attorney Kripa Upadhyay criticizes the policy, stating that it reinforces the notion of immigrants being outsiders, and may lead to unnecessary fear and bias in the naturalization process.
• The policy memo grants USCIS officials the discretion to waive the requirement for neighbourhood investigations in individual cases or classes of cases.
• The USCIS has also restored a rigorous and holistic approach to evaluating the "good moral character" of foreign nationals applying for American citizenship.

Statistics:

• The neighbourhood investigations cover the vicinity of an alien's (foreign national's) place of residence and employment, including at least the 5-year period prior to the filing of the alien's naturalization application.
• The policy memo requires USCIS to review relevant evidence contained in the records before making a decision on conducting or waiving neighbourhood investigations.
• The number of neighbourhood investigations conducted by USCIS is not specified in the policy memo.

Sources:

• US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Internal Policy Memorandum ( Timing not specified )
• Buchalter, Immigration Attorney, Kripa Upadhyay ( Timing not specified )
• Times of India (August 18) (Reference to previous article on the topic)