Explore

USCIS Introduces New Moral Character Disqualifiers for Naturalization Applicants

USCIS Introduces New Moral Character Disqualifiers for Naturalization Applicants

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has issued a new policy memo on November 4, 2026, outlining additional criteria that can disqualify lawful permanent residents from meeting the 'good moral character' requirement for naturalization. Previously, good moral character was primarily assessed based on a clean criminal record, tax compliance, and support for dependents. The new memo expands this scrutiny to include an applicant's entire immigration history, even prior to obtaining a Green Card. Significantly, applicants will now be questioned about their adherence to obligations stemming from Affidavits of Support submitted for sponsoring foreign nationals. If a sponsored immigrant is found to have become dependent on welfare, the naturalization applicant could face questions regarding their moral character and potential liability for government funds disbursed to the sponsored individual. Furthermore, if the applicant themselves received public a...

USCIS Issues New Guidance on 'Good Moral Character' for Citizenship Applicants

USCIS Issues New Guidance on 'Good Moral Character' for Citizenship Applicants

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released Policy Memorandum PM-602-0201 on November 4, 2026, clarifying how certain financial and support obligations impact an applicant's 'good moral character' for naturalization. The memo addresses issues related to dependent support, public-benefit fraud, and sponsorship commitments. For those who signed Forms I-134 or I-134A, a willful failure to honor promised support will be considered an adverse character factor, though signing these forms is not an automatic bar to citizenship. For signers of Forms I-864, I-864EZ, and I-864A, failure to meet support obligations may negatively impact their application. However, a sponsored person's receipt of benefits does not automatically constitute a breach. The memo also states that lawful receipt of public benefits alone does not prevent naturalization; any adverse finding must be based on specific conduct after an individualized review, not on poverty, disability, or lawful benefit receipt. This guidance aims ...

USCIS Issues New Guidance on Good Moral Character for Citizenship Applications

USCIS Issues New Guidance on Good Moral Character for Citizenship Applications

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released Policy Memorandum PM-602-0201 on November 4, 2026, clarifying how certain factors will be assessed when determining 'good moral character' for naturalization applicants. This memo specifically addresses issues related to dependent support, public-benefit fraud, sponsorship commitments, and the use of benefits linked to intentional avoidance of self-sufficiency. For individuals who signed Forms I-134 or I-134A, the memo states that signing these forms is not an automatic bar to citizenship, but willful failure to honor promised support will be considered an adverse character factor. For those who signed Forms I-864, I-864EZ, or I-864A, failure to meet support obligations may negatively impact their application, though a sponsored person's receipt of benefits does not automatically constitute a breach. Lawful receipt of public benefits by an applicant does not prevent naturalization; any adverse finding must be based on specific conduct after an indi...

Inside how Trump's migrant detention warehouse plan fell apart

Inside how Trump's migrant detention warehouse plan fell apart

The federal government bought massive warehouses for detention centers before answering basic questions about sewage, safety and local support.

USCIS Defines 'Rural Area' for EB-5 Investment Program, Clarifying Lower Investment Threshold Eligibility

USCIS Defines 'Rural Area' for EB-5 Investment Program, Clarifying Lower Investment Threshold Eligibility

USCIS Defines 'Rural Area' for EB-5 Investment Program, Clarifying Lower Investment Threshold Eligibility

USCIS Details Green Card Eligibility and Asylum Termination Conditions for Asylees

USCIS Details Green Card Eligibility and Asylum Termination Conditions for Asylees

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) outlines the process for asylees to obtain a green card one year after their asylum grant. This involves filing Form I-485, the application for adjustment of status. To qualify, an asylee must have been physically present in the U.S. for at least one year post-asylum grant, continue to meet the definition of a refugee, and not have been firmly resettled in another country. The process includes an eligibility review, filing the application with supporting evidence, biometrics collection, and potentially an interview. USCIS also specifies conditions under which asylum status can be terminated, including fraud in the original application, fundamental changes in the home country's circumstances, firm resettlement elsewhere, or certain criminal or security grounds. Traveling to one's home country after receiving asylum can be seen as evidence that the fear of persecution no longer exists, potentially leading to questions about or termination of asylum status. As...

Wisconsin State Trooper Detained by ICE Amid Asylum Application

Wisconsin State Trooper Detained by ICE Amid Asylum Application

Carel Aaron Van Der Merwe, a 21-year-old Wisconsin State Trooper, has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at an airport while attempting to board a domestic flight. Van Der Merwe, who came to the United States from South Africa as a child, is currently in federal immigration detention at the Dodge County Detention Facility. His immigration attorney, Marc Christopher, states that Van Der Merwe holds a federal work permit and has a pending asylum application, which his family has been pursuing for seven years. ICE, however, stated that Van Der Merwe entered the country in March 2019 with legal permission to stay until September 2019 but overstayed his admission. ICE further clarified that work authorization does not confer legal status and that Van Der Merwe will receive due process while remaining in custody pending removal proceedings. Wisconsin State Patrol hiring rules permit non-citizens with valid work authorization to serve as troopers.

USCIS Details PERM Labor Certification Process for Employer-Sponsored Green Cards

USCIS Details PERM Labor Certification Process for Employer-Sponsored Green Cards

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has outlined the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) program, a mandatory first step for most employment-based green card applications under the EB-2 and EB-3 categories. This process, managed by the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA), requires employers to demonstrate that there are no sufficient U.S. workers who are able, willing, qualified, and available for a position in the intended employment area. Additionally, employers must prove that hiring a foreign national will not negatively impact the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers. The PERM process involves several stages, including defining the position, obtaining a prevailing wage determination, conducting recruitment and providing notice, reviewing applicants, and finally filing Form ETA-9089. This certification is a prerequisite before an employer can file an immigrant petition (Form I-140) with USCIS. The entire process, from initiation t...

USCIS Details Green Card Interview Process and Key Questions for Applicants in 2026

USCIS Details Green Card Interview Process and Key Questions for Applicants in 2026

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) conducts Green Card interviews for applicants seeking to adjust their status to lawful permanent resident within the United States. These interviews, held at USCIS field offices, involve an officer questioning the applicant under oath about the information provided on Form I-485. In marriage-based cases, questions also focus on the couple's relationship, while employment-based cases delve into the job offer. Applicants are required to bring original documents filed with their application. A May 2026 USCIS policy memo instructs officers to treat every approval as a matter of discretion, and applications filed on or after September 18, 2026, are subject to a new public charge review, which assesses an applicant's likelihood of depending on government support. USCIS may waive interviews on a case-by-case basis for certain groups, such as parents of U.S. citizens, but retains the right to conduct an interview if any doubts arise regarding identity, criminal his...

Greenberg Traurig Podcast Discusses Immigration Implications of Supreme Court's Blanche v. Lau Decision

Greenberg Traurig Podcast Discusses Immigration Implications of Supreme Court's Blanche v. Lau Decision

Greenberg Traurig's 'Immigration Insights' podcast, hosted by Kate Kalmykov, featured attorneys Jennifer Hermansky and Courtney Brooks discussing the Supreme Court’s decision in Blanche v. Lau. This decision allows border officers, under certain circumstances, to treat returning green card holders with pending criminal matters as applicants for admission, even before a conviction. The podcast outlined potential consequences for various groups, including permanent residents, EB-5 investors, families, and traveling employees. It also provided practical guidance on issues such as travel, airport questioning, and Form I-407. Additionally, the discussion covered how employers can respond to these changes while avoiding improper reverification or discrimination, suggesting the use of confidential, counsel-led procedures and preparation for travel-related emergencies.

Federal Law Enforcement Lacks Transparency in Commercial Data Purchases, Raising Fourth Amendment Concerns

Federal Law Enforcement Lacks Transparency in Commercial Data Purchases, Raising Fourth Amendment Concerns

Federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and components of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), have not provided public transparency regarding their acquisition and use of commercial data from data brokers. This stands in stark contrast to the U.S. intelligence community, which has published frameworks and reports on its commercial data practices. While the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) released its first report in September 2026 detailing how the intelligence community acquires and uses commercial data, federal law enforcement has offered little to no comparable information. This lack of disclosure extends to the types of data purchased, the volume of personally identifiable information, data pertaining to U.S. citizens, and how this data is utilized. Previous reports, such as a September 2023 DHS inspector general report, have highlighted significant issues with DHS agencies' commercial data purchases, including failures to adhere to privacy policies and a lack ...

Federal Court Blocks DHS Rule Ending Duration of Status for International Students; Congress Considers Permanent Rejection

Federal Court Blocks DHS Rule Ending Duration of Status for International Students; Congress Considers Permanent Rejection

A federal court has temporarily blocked the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from implementing its rule to end 'Duration of Status' (D/S) for international students nationwide, while litigation continues. This ruling is a significant, though not permanent, victory for international students, scholars, and educational institutions. The DHS rule aimed to replace the long-standing D/S policy, which allows international students to remain in the U.S. for the duration of their academic programs, with fixed admission periods, typically limited to four years. This change would introduce increased bureaucracy, costs, and potential delays, particularly affecting PhD students whose programs often exceed four years. DHS has appealed the court's decision, indicating that the legal battle is ongoing.