USCIS Tightens Citizenship Vetting: Officers Get Broader Discretion, NTAs For Unlawful Voting

USCIS issued August 2025 policy updates expanding officer discretion in naturalization cases: a broader “good moral character” standard and tighter treatment of unlawful registration/voting and false citizenship claims. The guidance ties such conduct to deportability grounds, enabling denials and Notices to Appear that block N-400 approvals while removal is pending. These moves align with a wider 2025 trend of USCIS stepping up vetting and enforcement roles across benefit adjudications.