Attorneys, advocates knock ‘good moral character’ requirement

Immigration attorneys and advocates are criticizing a new U.S. policy expanding how officials evaluate an immigrant’s “good moral character” when applying for citizenship and other benefits.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said in a memo that officers must take “a holistic evaluation” of an immigrant’s background, not simply “the absence of misconduct.”

The same approach will be applied to immigrants who seek to work and live as residents, according to the agency.

The policy includes criteria relating to immigrants’ past benefit requests. The agency said in a policy manual update that “anti-American” activity, including on social media, will be an overwhelmingly negative consideration in any discretionary analysis.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesperson Matthe