Overview

• USCIS policy memo PM-602-0188, effective immediately, directs officers to assess naturalization applicants’ “good moral character” using a totality-of-circumstances approach.
• Officers must now weigh positive factors including sustained community involvement, family caregiving, educational attainment, stable employment, length of U.S. residence and tax compliance.
• The directive broadens scrutiny to lawful but concerning behaviors—such as reckless or habitual traffic infractions, harassment and aggressive solicitation—as potential indicators of poor character.
• Permanent statutory bars like murder, genocide and aggravated felonies and conditional bars such as repeated DUIs and false citizenship claims remain in force, and officers are instructed to consider rehabilitation evidence when past misconduct falls outside those bars.
• Critics and former officials warn that the expanded discretion may yield inconsistent adjudications and discourage eligible green-card holders from applying for U.S. citizenship.