Mon Oct 20 20:10:00 UTC 2025: Headline: Trump Administration Toughens Citizenship Test, Raising Concerns About Immigrant Assimilation

Seattle, WA – As new U.S. citizens took the Oath of Allegiance during a naturalization ceremony in Seattle on July 4, 2025, changes implemented by the Trump administration are making the path to citizenship significantly more challenging. Starting October 20, green card holders applying for naturalization will face a more rigorous civics test, a move the government says will ensure new citizens are “fully assimilated.”

The revamped test will require applicants to answer 12 questions correctly out of 20, up from the current standard of 6 out of 10. The pool of possible questions will also expand to 128 and include more complex topics on U.S. history, politics, and government. Simpler questions about holidays and geography are being replaced with ones demanding more in-depth knowledge, such as the reasons behind the U.S. involvement in the Persian Gulf and Vietnam Wars.

Beyond the civics test, applicants will now be required to demonstrate “good moral character” by providing evidence of their positive contributions to American society. Immigration officers will also conduct more thorough background checks, potentially interviewing neighbors, coworkers, or family members.

USCIS spokesman Matthew Tragesser stated that the new test will ensure that those joining us as fellow citizens are fully assimilated and will contribute to America’s greatness. Critics, however, argue the changes create unnecessary obstacles, particularly for those with low literacy levels or limited access to resources.

“It’s hard to imagine that these changes don’t have a negative impact on the number of people who are able to continue the naturalization process,” said Julie Mitchell, legal director of the Central American Resource Center in Los Angeles.

USCIS Director Joseph Edlow defended the changes, arguing the current test is too easy and fails to truly assess an applicant’s attachment to the Constitution. Amanda Frost, a professor of immigration law at the University of Virginia, questions the need for these changes, stating, “Has there been any evidence that we’re allowing people to naturalize who don’t share our values, and don’t make for good participants in our democracy? I don’t see any evidence of that.”

Read More