US to Consider Anti-American Views in Immigration Decisions

The endorsement or promotion of “anti-American” ideologies and activities will factor into decisions on citizenship and other immigration benefits, US Citizenship and Immigration Services said.

The agency will also scrutinize whether applicants have supported “antisemitic terrorism” as part of a holistic review of applications. Those factors were identified in an update Tuesday to the agency’s policy manual for officers adjudicating benefit requests.

It’s the latest Trump administration policy measure that restricts eligibility for benefits or raises new questions about factors used to evaluate applicants. Earlier this month, for example, USCIS said it would consider “good moral character” in approving applications for citizenship.

The agency said it would weigh positive factors like educational attainment, stable employment history, family caregiving, and community involvement. Negative factors could include aggravated felonies, controlled substance abuse, DUI violations, unlawful voting, and habitual traffic violations.

For immigration benefits like permanent residency or naturalization, an applicant bears the burden of proving that their character and past conduct pass muster in a discretionary review, even if they meet all other the eligibility requirements. The updated policy manual didn’t specify what groups or activities would be classified as anti-American or antisemitic in that discretionary analysis by USCIS officers.

The agency is “committed to implementing policies and procedures that root out anti-Americanism and supporting the enforcement of rigorous screening and vetting measures to the fullest extent possible,” USCIS spokesman Matthew Tragesser said in a statement.

Other recently updated USCIS benefits eligibility policies include reversing a Biden administration policy shielding some children of long-term temporary visa holders from aging out of legal status. It’s also barred transgender female athletes from qualifying for “extraordinary ability” visa categories. Earlier this year the agency expanded circumstances when immigrants would be instructed to go before an immigration judge when applications are denied.