US to scrutinize immigrants for ‘moral character’ before citizenship

Immigration attorneys and advocates are criticizing a new U.S. policy expanding how officials evaluate an immigrant’s “good moral character” when applying for citizenship and other benefits.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said in a memo that officers must take “a holistic evaluation” of an immigrant’s background, not simply “the absence of misconduct.”

The same approach will be applied to immigrants who seek to work and live as residents, according to the agency. The policy includes criteria relating to immigrants’ past benefit requests. The agency said in a policy manual update that “anti-American” activity, including on social media, will be an overwhelmingly negative consideration in any discretionary analysis.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesperson Matthew Tragesser said the government is dedicated to stricter screening practices. Immigration benefits are a privilege, not a right, he said in a statement.

—Tampa Bay Times

Massachusetts school district faces Trump admin investigation over ‘graphic… inappropriate’ student survey

A local school district is facing a federal investigation for a “graphic” and “inappropriate” survey that was allegedly given to students as young as 11 years old against their parents’ wishes.

The U.S. Department of Education has launched an investigation into Burlington Public Schools for allegedly failing to comply with parents’ written requests to opt their children out of a survey that asked questions about sexual activity and gender identity.

According to the Trump administration, the district may have violated parents’ rights under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment — which allows parents to recuse their children from participating in certain school surveys.

The controversial questionnaire earlier this year was given to both middle and high school students in Burlington Public Schools. The survey had questions about: sexual intercourse, sexual orientation, gender identity, sexting, experiences with sexual assault, alcohol use, and more.

—Boston Herald

Vaccine situation will be complicated this year, experts warn

The ongoing drama in Washington over changes to national vaccine policy has many people wondering just how difficult and expensive it will be to get flu and coronavirus shots this fall.

While experts say that the situation is still uncertain, the biggest changes are likely to impact healthy adults under age 65 who are covered by Medicaid, called Medi-Cal in California, the federal health coverage of last resort for more than 70 million Americans, nearly 1 million of whom live in San Diego County.

Those who are covered by private health insurance plans from their employers or purchased through health insurance exchanges such as Covered California are likely to see significantly fewer impacts, because most carriers have signaled that they intend to continue providing their members with COVID-19 vaccines at no additional cost, even if anticipated changes at the federal level end up removing their obligation to do so under the Affordable Care Act of 2010.

“Vaccination continues to be one of the safest and most effective ways to protect against illness and reduces the severity of your illness if you do get sick,” Kaiser Permanente said in a statement. “Vaccinations mean fewer sick days, hospital stays, emergency room visits and other health complications.

—The San Diego Union-Tribune

Israel offers full pullout from Lebanon if Hezbollah disarms

Israel said it’s willing to start withdrawing its troops from Lebanon if the government there follows through with a plan to disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah by year’s end.

The offer marks a rare public overture by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who called the decision by Lebanon to task the army with demilitarizing the Lebanese militia “momentous.”

Israel agreed to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal with Hezbollah last year, including the withdrawal of troops from Lebanese territory on the condition that the militia group be disarmed. Although it mostly retreated, Israel said soldiers would remain in five outposts across the border to monitor any attempt by Hezbollah — designated a terrorist group by the U.S. and many other countries — to rebuild its capabilities along the frontier.

“If the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) take the necessary steps to implement the disarmament of Hezbollah, Israel will engage in reciprocal measures, including a phased reduction of IDF presence,” a statement from Netanyahu’s office said.

—Bloomberg News