Neuenschwander v. U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services

MEMORANDUM OPINION

T.S. ELLIS, III, District Judge.

This challenge to a denial of an application for naturalized U.S. citizenship requires determining whether a conviction for distribution of ecstasy in violation of Virginia law prohibits the applicant from establishing the required element of good moral character, notwithstanding that the distribution was not for commercial gain. For the reasons that follow, such a conviction precludes demonstration of good moral character because the lack of financial remuneration in the underlying offense is immaterial. The denial of the application was…