Trump Administration Plans To Revive ‘Neighbourhood Checks’ For Citizenship Applicants

Last Updated:August 27, 2025, 05:02 IST

According to the memo, USCIS officers would have discretion to decide whether a neighbourhood check is necessary in each case.

The revival of neighbourhood checks is the latest in a series of moves by the Trump administration to tighten legal immigration pathways (AP/File)

The US government is preparing to reinstate a decades-old immigration vetting tool known as “neighbourhood checks" for individuals applying for American citizenship, according to an internal memo obtained by CBS News. The move would allow the Trump administration to implement stricter scrutiny over naturalisation applications by including community-based assessments.

Under this policy shift, officials at US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may begin contacting neighbours, coworkers, employers, and business associates of citizenship applicants to assess their eligibility. These investigations would aim to determine whether applicants meet the legal standards for US citizenship, including demonstrating good moral character, loyalty to the Constitution, and being “well-disposed to the good order and happiness of the US."

While the policy may seem new, it actually dates back several decades. US immigration law allows for such neighbourhood investigations, but they have been routinely waived since 1991. In practice, the government has primarily relied on criminal background checks and FBI screenings to vet citizenship applicants over the past three decades.

According to the memo, USCIS officers would have discretion to decide whether a neighbourhood check is necessary in each case. They may request testimonial letters from people familiar with the applicant’s character and behaviour. To preempt such requests, the memo encourages applicants to “proactively" submit letters from neighbours, employers, or colleagues as part of their naturalisation paperwork.

Currently, to qualify for US citizenship through naturalisation, applicants must generally have lived in the country for three to five years as lawful permanent residents. They must also pass a civics and English test and have no serious criminal record.

The revival of neighbourhood checks is the latest in a series of moves by the Trump administration to tighten legal immigration pathways. Over recent months, the administration has layered additional screening processes for those seeking benefits such as green cards, work permits, and naturalisation. In August, USCIS said it would more closely examine applicants’ “good moral character" and scrutinise any “anti-American" views or affiliations.

“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, attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and well-disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States," USCIS Deputy Director Joseph Edlow told CBS News.

However, some experts question the effectiveness of the policy. Doris Meissner, former commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service during the Clinton administration, noted that neighbourhood checks were largely phased out in the 1990s. “They were labour intensive and seldom yielded useful information from neighbourhoods or other sources," she said.

Location :

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published:

August 27, 2025, 05:02 IST

News world Trump Administration Plans To Revive ‘Neighbourhood Checks’ For Citizenship Applicants

Read More