The Trump administration is reportedly planning to make the US citizenship test more challenging, potentially introducing an essay requirement to grant officials broader discretion in approving immigrants for citizenship. This proposal is part of the administration's push for stricter legal immigration pathways and increased scrutiny of applicants’ “good moral character.” Joseph Edlow, director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), believes the previous administration set standards too low, leading to the revocation of some previously granted citizenship approvals, and has referred several cases for denaturalization to the Department of Justice.
Edlow criticizes the current citizenship exam as being too easy to pass. He suggests a move towards a standardized test where applicants would go to a testing center and answer questions to demonstrate their understanding of US civics, rather than the existing 10-question civics test. He also proposed an essay question on topics such as “What does it mean to be an American?” or “Who was your favorite founding father?” While the timeline for introducing the new test is not yet determined, Edlow hopes to implement changes within the next year. Meanwhile, USCIS is reverting to the 2020 version of the citizenship exam, which officials say was simplified under President Biden, and has released updated guidelines for assessing English language proficiency, further adding discretion to the citizenship process. However, immigration attorneys anticipate that these changes will likely result in more lawsuits against USCIS following citizenship application denials.
This tightening of the citizenship process by the Trump administration is part of a broader effort to overhaul the US immigration system. This follows directives to deny benefits to immigrants with “anti-American” views, a policy that could lead to application denials. Additionally, the administration has initiated Medicaid spending probes targeting immigrant healthcare programs in several Democratic-led states. These measures, along with the latest proposal to toughen the citizenship test, reflect a more stringent approach to immigration. However, this rigorous stance has also been linked to a significant decline in the US labor force, impacting various sectors and potentially contributing to inflation, as over 1.2 million immigrants, who form a substantial part of the workforce in key industries, have left.
The pursuit of stricter immigration policies, while aiming to strengthen national identity and security, must also consider its broader impact on society and the economy. A fair and transparent immigration system should balance national interests with humanitarian considerations, fostering integration and opportunity while upholding the values of justice and compassion for all.