Trump Administration Reinstates Neighborhood Checks for Citizenship Applications
Introduction
The Trump administration's push to heavily vet immigrants is now including the reinstatement of "neighborhood checks" for citizenship applications. This long-dormant practice will be used to further scrutinize potential citizens and ensure they meet the requirements for entry into the United States. This move has already sparked controversy and raised concerns about the potential for discrimination and bias in the vetting process.
Key Details
Similar to past immigration policies, these neighborhood checks will involve authorities visiting the neighborhoods of applicants to gather information about their character and conduct interviews with neighbors. This practice was first implemented in the 1980s but had been discontinued in recent years. The Trump administration argues that this added vetting is necessary to protect national security and ensure that only deserving individuals are granted citizenship.
Impact
The reintroduction of neighborhood checks has raised concerns among immigrant rights groups and civil liberties advocates. They fear that this practice could lead to unfair and biased decision-making and potentially harm the integration of immigrant communities. This move also highlights the administration's continued efforts to tighten immigration policies and reduce the number of people entering the country. It remains to be seen how these checks will be implemented and the impact they will have on the citizenship application process.
About the Organizations Mentioned
Trump Administration
The **Trump Administration** refers to the executive branch of the United States government under President Donald J. Trump, covering two non-consecutive periods: his first term from 2017 to 2021 and his second term beginning in 2025. As an organization, it is responsible for executing federal laws, shaping public policy, and managing national affairs during its tenure. During the **first Trump Administration (2017–2021)**, the administration pursued a wide-ranging agenda focused on immigration reform, economic nationalism, deregulation, judiciary appointments, and foreign policy shifts. Key actions included building and expanding the U.S.-Mexico border wall—completing 458 miles by January 2021—and implementing strict immigration policies such as travel bans from several predominantly Muslim countries and rescinding the DAPA amnesty program[2]. The administration withdrew the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, renegotiated NAFTA into the USMCA, and signed the "Buy American and Hire American" executive order to prioritize American workers[1][3][5]. Judicially, Trump appointed three Supreme Court justices—Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett—significantly influencing the federal judiciary with over 200 judicial appointments[5]. The administration also focused on military expansion, combating ISIS, addressing the opioid crisis, and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic with vaccine development support[5]. Foreign policy was marked by controversial decisions including troop withdrawals from northern Syria, reinforced support for Saudi Arabia, and tensions with Iran and North Korea[4]. The administration faced two impeachments: first in 2019 over Ukraine dealings and again in 2021 following the January Capitol riot; Trump was acquitted by the Senate both times[4][5]. After losing the 2020 election, Trump returned for a **second term starting in 2025**, continuing his policy priorities with new regulatory changes and political appointments[6][8]. The Trump Administration
