By: Gabe Ortiz |americasvoice.org This month marks 20 years since the first federal recognition of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, which is observed on September 17 and encourages U.S. citizens to learn about their civic responsibilities. It’s also historically been a day for prospective U.S. citizens to complete the naturalization process, whether it’s submitting their application forms […]
Changes to naturalization civics test better assess applicants’ knowledge of U.S. history and government WASHINGTON: On September 17, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services posted a Federal Register notice announcing implementation of the 2025 naturalization civics test. The 2025 test assesses an alien’s understanding of U.S. history and government in line with the statutory requirement and is one […]
By: Mary Campbell In an exclusive interview, Joseph Edlow, newly confirmed Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), has defended a controversial immigration policy shift allowing immigration officers to weigh applicants’ personal views—specifically whether they espouse “anti‑American” ideologies—as part of green card and visa evaluations. What This Change Entails Edlow emphasized that the policy […]
By: Mary Campbell U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially intensified its evaluation of the ‘good moral character’ (GMC) standard for lawful permanent residents applying for U.S. citizenship. Under this revised policy, applicants must now substantiate not only the absence of disqualifying behavior, but also demonstrate active, positive contributions to their communities. Expanded GMC […]
By: Brian Figeroux, Esq. The concept of dual citizenship—also known as dual nationality—raises a complex set of questions about legal identity, allegiance, and rights. For many immigrants, expatriates, or children born to parents from different countries, the ability to hold two nationalities provides practical benefits. But does the U.S. government legally recognize this status, […]
By Mary Campbell A health worker who has lived legally in the United States for over five decades was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a California airport, despite holding a valid green card. The incident has ignited renewed discussion about the legal vulnerabilities of long-term permanent residents and the crucial protections […]
By Brian Figeroux, Esq. Dual citizenship is a legal status in which a person holds citizenship in two countries simultaneously. This situation often arises when individuals are born to parents from different countries or when they acquire a new nationality through naturalization while retaining their original one. In an increasingly globalized world, dual citizenship has […]
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) upcoming Interim Final Rule (IFR) on Alien Registration and Evidence of Registration, set to take effect in April 2025, introduces new obligations and potential penalties for non-citizens residing in the United States. Given the increased scrutiny, stringent registration requirements, and potential legal consequences for noncompliance, lawful permanent residents […]
By Brian Figeroux, Esq. Tax laws in the United States play a crucial role in an individual’s immigration status, particularly for green card holders. One of the key decisions for married couples when filing taxes is whether to choose Married Filing Jointly (MFJ) or Married Filing Separately (MFS). This decision has serious financial and legal […]
By Brian Figeroux, Esq. The process of applying for U.S. citizenship has always been complex, but in 2025, under the Trump Administration’s intensified immigration policies, the path to naturalization has become even more challenging. With an ongoing crackdown on immigrants, naturalization applications face increased scrutiny, particularly for those who obtained green cards through marriage. If […]
