11 - Civics

Trump's New Citizenship Test is About to Get Harder

Becoming an American citizen may have just gotten harder. 

U.S. green card holders applying for citizenship will now face a civics test that is more complex, subjective, and even longer. 

The citizenship test that USCIS implemented in 2008 required applications to answer six questions correctly out of ten. The new test requires applicants to answer twelve out of twenty correctly, with the list of possible questions increasing from one hundred to one hundred twenty eight. According to Politico, these questions are chosen at the discretion of the officer adjudicating the application. 

Individuals applying for citizenship after October 20 will have to answer questions that test their knowledge of U.S. history, politics, and government. According to the USCIS website, these questions becoming more difficult and longer will "restore integrity to the naturalization process and meet congressional intent." 

Joseph Edlow, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director, claimed the test was "too easy" while speaking at an event hosted by the Center for Immigration Studies. He argued the test needed to be "more challenging" to make sure people know "what it means to be a U.S. citizen." He even proposed including an essay outlining what it means to be an American. 

[Individual filling out the citizenship test; picture above leads to source.]

In addition to the civics test, applicants will now have to convince immigration officers of their "good moral character." The absence of bad behavior or a criminal record/conduct was once enough to grant citizenship. Now, applicants have to highlight their "positive contributions to American society."  

Immigration officers will also be conducting vigorous checks of applicant's backgrounds and re-introducing interviews with co-workers, family members, and neighbors. The agency is also resuming neighborhood investigations to ensure that applicants meet the statutory requirements and are worthy of U.S. citizenship. 

 

The USCIS has also announced several more changes to the citizenship process: restoring robust vetting and stricter reviews of disability exceptions to the English and civics requirements. Other policies include: clarifying how unlawful voting and registering to vote and making false claims disqualifies applicants from showing good moral character. 

The USCIS also submitted a final rule expanding its law enforcement apparatus. The agency argued that having its own body of special agents who work with other law enforcement agencies will help combat cases of fraud and uphold U.S. national security. 

In a September announcement of the implementation of this new test and changes, the USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser said that "the American people can be assured that those joining us as fellow citizens are fully assimilated and will contribute to America's greatness."

These changes reflect what immigration analysts and advocates describe as a shift in USCIS' mission away from "customer service" toward a more concentrated effort to root out fraudulent applications. 

For more information on test implementation and administration information, test questions, and study guides, refer to the USCIS Citizenship Resource Center.