03 Sep 2025 USCIS To Conduct “Neighborhood Investigations” For Naturalization Applicants
One of the requirements for naturalization is that the applicant demonstrate they are a person of “good moral character,” which would generally be established with biometric checks (fingerprints) and criminal history checks performed by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).
However, on August 22, 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced it will start performing (or resuming) “neighborhood investigations” of naturalization applicants rather than relying on fingerprinting and background checks alone. (Although immigration law did provide for neighborhood investigations, the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) stopped doing neighborhood investigations back in 1991. Trump is apparently now reviving or bringing back neighborhood investigations.)
According to this policy memorandum (PM), neighborhood investigation by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will “cover the vicinity of the alien’s place of residence and employment, and include at least a five-year period prior to the filing of the alien’s naturalization application.” The purpose of this investigation is to “corroborated an alien’s eligibility for naturalization, which includes scrutiny of alien’s residency, good moral character, attachment to the U.S. Constitution, and disposition to the good order and happiness of the United States.”
In other words, DHS may start interviewing your neighbors, coworkers, employers, etc., to make sure that you contribute to the “happiness” of the U.S. USCIS may also request naturalization applicants to submit “testimonial letters from neighbors, employers, co-workers, and business associates who know the alien and can provide substantiated information about the alien, including any of the requirements for naturalization.” USCIS even suggests that these testimonials be included in the original naturalization application package (N-400). Moreover, an “alien’s failure or refusal to provide such evidence may lead to a neighborhood investigation which may impact the alien’s ability to establish their eligibility for naturalization.”
It appears the USCIS may now be deeply investigating naturalization applicants in terms of how they got their green card and whether it was obtained through fraud, misrepresentation, or concealment, such as through a fixed marriage or employment when they never worked for the employer. USCIS may ask neighbors in a suspected marital green card case if they ever noticed the couple being together at home.
USCIS may also conduct these neighborhood investigations to determine if the applicant is some kind of anti-American radical who’s constantly burning U.S. flags and protesting against America, similar to what we have seen on college campuses.
I know in the past, people would file for naturalization on their own rather than retain an attorney because they thought it was simple and straightforward. But now we see the Trump administration is getting very strict and tough in examining a person’s past behavior to determine whether they are worthy of being granted citizenship. And I believe that if USCIS concludes you are not worthy of U.S. citizenship, they may also take steps to revoke your green card, depending on the reasons.
The bottom line is it will now be far more difficult to naturalize, especially when you have to establish how you bring “happiness” to the U.S. through neighbors’ testimonials, assuming you are on good terms with your neighbor. That is why I would suggest that you retain an attorney on all your immigration matters, now even including naturalization.
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