Amid enhanced vetting processes for immigrants and nonimmigrants, US authorities continue reminding applicants, “immigration benefits, including to live and work in the United States, remain a privilege, not a right.” Several warnings against petitioners’ ties to “terrorists,” supposed criminal ties, drug convictions, immigration fraud (including falsifying information to obtain advantages like green cards), and ‘anti-Americanism,’ among other red-flagged violations have repeatedly been brought into focus via recent official memos, press releases and social media updates.
One such update spotlighted by a brand-new X post shared this morning (IST) extended “comfort” to Americans, who, in turn, have amplified their hate calls against immigrants in the US recently. Just days ago, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated its memo on the naturalisation process by stressing upon an applicant’s “good moral character” while vetting their citizenship requests. The government agency appears to have revised their policy yet again to include “neighbourhood checks” as part of the verification protocol.
US to bring back ‘neighbourhood checks’ for citizenship applications
“Americans should be comforted knowing that USCIS is taking seriously its responsibility to ensure aliens are being properly vetted and are of good moral character,” the official USCIS X account quoted Director Joseph Edlow, while sharing a CBS News article laying emphasis on “neighbourhood checks.”
The report, in turn, directs readers to a US government memo with the subject “Resumption of Personal Investigations of Aliens Applying for Naturalisation (INA 335(a)).” The official memo revealed that USCIS has so far generally waived the requirements for neighbourhood investigations, relying majorly on biometric checks and criminal history checks performed by the FBI to verify the applicant’s good moral character and eligibility for naturalisation.
The memo obtained by CBS News, dated August 22, 2025, now states, “USCIS is exercising its statutory authority in INA 335(a) and will immediately end the general waiver of neighbourhood investigations to fully ensure that aliens applying for naturalisation meet statutory requirements, including, but not limited to, full attachment to the principles of the US Constitution and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States.”
It further says that USCIS would finalise its decision to either go ahead with such an investigation or waive it on an “individualised discretionary basis after reviewing relevant evidence contained in the records before USCIS.”
The on-ground investigations could consequently include neighbours and coworkers of the petitioners being interviewed. USCIS Director Edlow confirmed that the memo will “ensure that only the most qualified applicants receive American citizenship.”
The now-resumed US policy to vet citizenship petitioners is decades-old
However, from 1802 to 1981, petitioners were originally required to present two witnesses who could testify to their qualifications. Thereafter, Congress got rid of the requirement in 1981, saying that an applicant’s character would be better judged by an investigation and a neighbourhood investigation, if needed. In 1991, the former Immigration and Naturalisation Service (INA) stopped conducting these investigations altogether.
All in all, the USCIS’ latest update bring back a long-dormant, decades-old government policy.