A US citizenship applicant's LinkedIn connection requests to USCIS officials have raised eyebrows, with the agency citing 'lack of judgment' as a reason to reject their naturalization application.
A law firm has come forward with the assertion that USCIS intends to reject the applicant's citizenship due to the LinkedIn requests, sparking a debate over the agency's discretion in interpreting the good moral character criterion.
Immigration attorney Richard T. Herman has shared his views on the matter, stating that a LinkedIn request in isolation does not constitute a threat, coercion, or poor moral character.
USCIS has clarified that the LinkedIn requests were seen as an attempt to reach out to agency staff outside of designated communication protocols, raising concerns about professional boundaries and potential undue influence.
The case is set to examine the extent of USCIS's discretion in interpreting the good moral character criterion under federal immigration legislation.
