Proposed Changes to the U.S. Citizenship Test: A More Comprehensive Approach
Immigrants could face increased difficulty in passing the U.S. naturalization test in the near future.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced plans to revise the U.S. citizenship test, aiming to make it more challenging and comprehensive. Here's a breakdown of the proposed changes:
Civics Portion
The civics portion of the test is set to become more demanding, focusing on a deeper understanding of U.S. government and history, rather than mere memorization of facts. The revision will also restore some aspects of the 2020 test version, which included more questions and a stricter passing grade, requiring applicants to correctly answer 12 out of 20 questions[2][4].
English Portion
The English portion will see a stronger emphasis on assessing speaking, comprehension, reading, and writing skills, making it more rigorous[1].
Impact on Naturalization
These changes could significantly impact the naturalization process for immigrants. Applicants will need to demonstrate a more thorough understanding of civics and stronger English skills, potentially reducing the number of applicants who successfully pass the test[1][4]. This could lead to increased preparation time for applicants, potentially delaying their naturalization process.
The USCIS will also place greater emphasis on evaluating an applicant's good moral character, focusing on positive attributes and disqualifying behaviors[3].
Controversy and Concerns
Advocates and legal experts have expressed concerns that these changes could limit access to naturalization. The Florida Immigrant Coalition stated that the 2020 version of the test is meant to make it harder to become U.S. citizens[5]. Some argue that the changes are most likely aiming to screen out more people with a weaker command of English[6].
Immigration attorney Danielle Hernandez suggested that the changes are a response to stricter immigration enforcement and zero-tolerance policies, which are speeding up deportations, including cases involving permanent residents who might one day become citizens[7].
The Department of Homeland Security reported that last year, more than 8.7 million lawful permanent residents were eligible for U.S. citizenship. Currently, more than 95% of all applicants pass the current naturalization test[8].
As the USCIS moves forward with these changes, it remains to be seen how they will impact the naturalization process and the diversity of the U.S. population.
[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/01/us/politics/us-citizenship-test-changes.html [2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/03/01/us-citizenship-test-changes/ [3] https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2023-03-01/us-citizenship-test-to-become-more-difficult-under-new-director [4] https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/01/politics/us-citizenship-test-changes/index.html [5] https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article263438993.html [6] https://www.nbcnews.com/news/immigrant/us-citizenship-test-changes-could-make-it-harder-become-u-s-n1261137 [7] https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/us-citizenship-test-to-become-more-difficult-under-new-director-139267463865 [8] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-citizenship-test-to-become-more-difficult-under-new-director-joseph-edlow/
- The proposed changes to the U.S. citizenship test, including a more demanding civics portion and a more rigorous English portion, have sparked concerns in the general news and policy-and-legislation arena regarding potential limitations in education access for immigrants.
- Amidst heated discussions about the revised U.S. citizenship test, some political observers point out that stricter English proficiency requirements and a more comprehensive civics portion could lead to a decrease in the number of applicants successfully passing the test, making education in civics and English crucial for those seeking U.S. citizenship.
