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 […]
In July 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) elevated denaturalization to a top enforcement priority, marking a dramatic shift in how the federal government approaches U.S. citizenship. While the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) has long authorized revocation of naturalization, historically such cases were rare and confined to extraordinary circumstances—such as involvement in genocide or […]
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, and […]
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 […]
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 […]
By Brian Figeroux, Esq. | Editorial credit: mark reinstein / Shutterstock.com President Donald Trump has unveiled a proposal to replace the existing EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program with a new “Gold Card” visa, priced at $5 million. This initiative aims to attract affluent individuals by offering permanent U.S. residency and a pathway to citizenship in exchange […]
By Brian Figeroux, Esq. In the United States, millions of lawful permanent residents (green card holders) are eligible to become U.S. citizens but fail to do so. Many delay filing for naturalization due to fear, procrastination, misinformation, or simply not realizing the urgency. However, waiting too long to apply could expose you and your family […]
