Overview

• USCIS issued mid-August guidance directing officers to assess applicants holistically rather than relying on the absence of disqualifying crimes.
• Adjudicators are told to credit civic contributions such as caregiving, steady employment, tax compliance, educational attainment, and community involvement.
• The policy instructs officers to weigh certain non-criminal conduct and to review social media for endorsements of anti-American activity or antisemitic ideologies.
• USCIS says applicants can demonstrate reform through evidence of rehabilitation, including paying overdue taxes or completing probation.
• Supporters describe the shift as upholding the “gold standard” of citizenship, while experts warn vague terms grant wide discretion that could lead to inconsistent or politicized decisions.