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U.S. to resume “neighborhood checks” in citizenship applications
According to USCIS, the agency will once again conduct on-the-ground inquiries into the lives of immigrants seeking naturalization.
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Malvika Choudhary - Thu, 28, Aug 2025
- 16:48 EDT
- 20
USCIS logo / USCIS
The Trump administration is reinstating neighborhood investigations for citizenship applicants, ending a decades-long waiver and marking a significant shift in U.S. immigration vetting procedures.
According to a policy memorandum issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Aug. 22, the agency will once again conduct on-the-ground inquiries into the lives of immigrants seeking naturalization.
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These checks, outlined under section 335(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, may include interviews with neighbors, employers, coworkers and business associates to verify eligibility criteria such as residency, good moral character, and attachment to the U.S. Constitution.
The practice, largely abandoned since 1991 in favor of FBI background checks, will no longer be subject to a blanket waiver. Instead, USCIS officers will decide case by case whether an investigation is warranted.
By resuming neighborhood investigations, USCIS will scrutinize:
— USCIS (@USCIS) August 28, 2025
️alien’s residency
️good moral character
️attachment to the U.S. Constitution &
️disposition to the good order & happiness of the United States.
Becoming a U.S. citizen is a rare privilege meant for those who… pic.twitter.com/VkB6K8nQKD
Applicants are encouraged to submit testimonial letters proactively to reduce the likelihood of additional scrutiny. Failure to comply with requests for evidence may trigger a neighborhood check and affect eligibility determinations.
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said the move will “ensure that only the most qualified applicants receive American citizenship,” stressing that Americans should be assured the agency is upholding the integrity of the naturalization process.
The policy shift is part of a broader effort by President Donald Trump’s administration to tighten access to legal immigration. In recent months, the administration has frozen refugee admissions, ended Biden-era programs that allowed certain migrants to remain in the United States legally, and introduced new vetting measures for applicants seeking green cards, work permits and citizenship.
USCIS has also announced expanded scrutiny of the “good moral character” requirement and new probes into so-called “anti-American” views, raising concerns among civil rights groups.
Critics argue the renewed neighborhood checks could intimidate applicants and deter lawful residents from pursuing naturalization. Doris Meissner, who served as commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service in the 1990s, said the checks were discontinued decades ago because they were labor intensive and “seldom yielded useful information.” She added that robust background checks already provide safeguards to prevent unqualified applicants from becoming citizens.
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