President Donald Trump has major changes planned for how U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services approves green cards and naturalization — starting with forcing applicants to prove they have not engaged in un-American activities.
"NEW: McCarthyism returns to immigration law, as @USCIS announces that it will begin screening applicants for immigration benefits for 'Anti-America ideologies or activities.' The term has no prior precedent in immigration law and its definition is entirely up to the Trump admin," wrote American Immigration Council fellow Aaron Reichlin-Melnick on X, sharing the memorandum announcing the change.
"Under the old rules on 'good moral character,' applicants for citizenship had to show that they were not disqualified due to prior convictions or conduct," wrote Reichlin-Melnick. However, "Under Trump's new standard, applicants must prove that they are 'worthy' of becoming U.S. citizens."
Although "anti-America ideologies or activities" is a vaguely defined idea on the surface, another attorney revealed that the Trump administration had actually noted what this means to a certain extent.
"Buried in a footnote in what Aaron shares, Trump admin for 1st time defines 'anti-Americanism' (ref'd in EOs) as advocating 4 socialism," wrote immigration attorney Eric Lee.
To some degree, a version of this policy has existed for decades, where those applying for citizenship must sign an affidavit attesting they are not affiliated with a foreign communist party or any other totalitarian party. But the Trump administration's policy goes much further than that, Lee noted.
"If noncit applying for citizenship/green card possesses or hands out socialist leaflets they can be denied & deported. Criminalizing socialism."
This comes at a time when the Trump administration is already under fire for mass immigration raids and deportations to foreign megaprisons, often with little or no due process.