Asserting that the current regulations permit too many individuals to obtain naturalization and high-skilled work visas without proving a sufficient level of dedication or contribution to the nation, the Trump administration is taking steps to strengthen the requirements for both.
The new director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Joseph Edlow, is at the forefront of the initiative. He has openly criticized the current citizenship test as being “too easy” and relying too much on rote memorization rather than true civic understanding. In interviews, Edlow has stated that the administration intends to reinstate aspects of the more rigorous naturalization exam that was implemented during Donald Trump’s first term, requiring a more thorough understanding of American history, politics, and democratic principles. (Financial Express) (Anadolu Ajansı)
Edlow is worried that the way the test is currently administered allows candidates to pass by memorizing answers without understanding what they mean, which he claims goes against the spirit of the law and the objective of creating informed citizens. According to him and other officials, a more stringent test will guarantee that new Americans are truly committed to the nation’s institutional fabric and ready for meaningful civic engagement. (Fox News; The Times of India)
A history of fluctuating standards precedes this push. Under the George W. Bush administration, the civics section of the naturalization exam was standardized in 2008 and required candidates to correctly answer six of ten questions out of a total of 100. (USCIS, USCIS) A more demanding version was introduced during the Trump administration’s subsequent changes; it was expanded in content and criticized for being unduly complex and ideologically skewed.
Advocates reacted negatively to this, claiming it imposed undue barriers. Political The Biden administration reversed those modifications in early 2021, formally going back to the 2008 civics test in an effort to lower the barriers to naturalization and lessen the administrative burden on applicants. (The Santa Barbara Independent, USCIS)
Now, with new leadership and a more stringent immigration stance, USCIS is indicating a shift back to the higher standards of the Trump-era model. As part of a larger review of who is eligible and under what circumstances, officials have even alluded to the possibility of revisiting some exemptions, such as those that benefit older applicants. (El País)
Naturalization is just one of the modifications. Edlow has also called for changes to the H-1B visa program that would move its emphasis from volume to selectivity based on proven value. He has argued that the program should “supplement, not supplant” the American workforce and has criticized practices where employers use H-1B workers primarily as cost-effective alternatives to American labor.
The proposed changes would give preference to highly skilled and well-paid foreign professionals in specialty occupations—those whose contributions clearly benefit the economy—over more general, less discriminatory entry. (Financial Express) (Visa Lawyer Blog)
When combined, these programs demonstrate an immigration philosophy that prioritizes increased scrutiny, independence, and quantifiable contribution. Proponents contend that by guaranteeing that immigrants and temporary employees have a strong stake in the nation’s political and economic structures, the reforms will strengthen national unity. Raising the bar, particularly on naturalization, critics argue, runs the risk of discouraging qualified immigrants, creating needless barriers, and reducing access to legal channels. (The Times of Economics)
The proposed changes to the H-1B program and the citizenship test are becoming defining elements of the administration’s larger immigration agenda as the policy debate progresses. How the conflict between accountability and accessibility is settled in the upcoming months will determine the final design and effects of the changes, which will go through the official rulemaking process. (The Times of India, Anadolu Ajansı, El País)
