US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated its policy manual regarding illegal immigration. The new guidelines aim to prevent individuals who have participated in elections or tried to register from being granted citizenship.
These updates will also enable USCIS to initiate deportation procedures against those who have engaged in voter fraud or falsely claimed to be US citizens for various benefits.
Matthew Tragesser, a spokesperson for USCIS, emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of the electoral process. He stated, “Illegal voting undermines the will of Americans and threatens the legitimacy of elections,” pointing to efforts under the Trump administration to deter and penalize non-citizens who attempt to influence elections illegally.
Moreover, the Trump administration plans to reinstate “neighborhood checks” for citizenship applicants, a practice last employed during the George H.W. Bush era.
Tragesser stated, “Aliens that promote or perpetuate illegal voting are facing rapid and serious consequences.” According to the current guidelines, illegal immigrants must show good moral character (GMC) to qualify for citizenship. Under the new rules, actions such as attempting to circumvent voting laws will disqualify applicants from meeting the GMC requirement.
An internal memo set to be distributed to USCIS employees outlines how these updated policies will be enforced. It specifies that notices will be issued to illegal immigrants who do not fulfill GMC criteria, possibly leading to criminal prosecution.
This new direction follows a March executive order from President Trump aimed at safeguarding the integrity of American elections. The order instructed the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a reliable system for verifying the citizenship or immigration status of individuals registering to vote.
Despite facing legal challenges, including lawsuits filed by Democratic attorneys general, Trump’s administration remains resolute in its immigration policy initiatives, including this latest guideline change at USCIS.
As the president continues to address illegal immigration, the scope for deportation actions is likely to expand.
Recently, the Department of Homeland Security reported over 359,000 arrests of illegal immigrants, reflecting ongoing efforts to enforce immigration laws.
