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Original Date Announced
December 13, 2019USCIS expands policy guidance to include additional examples of "unlawful acts" that reflect adversely on the good moral character requirement for naturalization and emphasizes that USCIS officers conduct this analysis on a case-by-case basis. [ID #658]
USCIS Policy Manual Volume 12, Part F, Chapter 5 - Conditional Bars for Acts in Statutory Period (current as of December 20, 2019) Policy Guidance re Unlawful Acts Bar to Good Moral CharacterBiden Administration Action: Modified
May 27, 20212021.05.27 Policy Alert Naturalization Eligibility and Voter Registration Through a State’s Benefit Application Process
This Biden administration policy modifies the Trump-era policy identified in this entry.
On May 27, 2021, DHS issued guidance clarifying that it would not penalize naturalization applicants who unknowingly or unwillingly registered to vote through state DMV processes.
View DocumentCurrent Status
Partially in effectMost Recent Action
May 27, 2021 Action: Modified 2021.05.27 Policy Alert Naturalization Eligibility and Voter Registration Through a State’s Benefit Application ProcessMay 27, 2021Acted on by Biden Administration
Original Trump Policy Status
Status: Final/ActualTrump Administration Action: Agency DirectiveSubject Matter: CitizenshipAgencies Affected: USCISPre Trump-Era Policies
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November 21, 2019
Previously, the USCIS Policy Manual provided only two examples of "unlawful acts": (1) unlawful voting and false claim to U.S. citizenship for voting, and (2) failure to file tax returns or pay taxes.
USCIS Policy Manual Volume 12, Part F, Chapter 5 - Conditional Bars for Acts in Statutory Period (current as of November 21, 2019)