United States: The Trump administration is preparing to make the process of becoming a US citizen harder, including the possible addition of an essay requirement. Immigration advocates warn this would give officials wide discretion in deciding who gets approved.
Why it matters:
President Trump is pushing for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants while also working to shrink legal immigration pathways. The changes are already facing pushback from advocacy groups.
The idea of an essay came shortly after officials said they would apply tougher standards when judging whether applicants show “good moral character,” according to the reports by AXIOS.
What’s happening:
- Joseph Edlow, director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), told Axios that the Biden administration’s rules were too lenient, and in some cases, citizenship approvals had to be revoked.
- He confirmed he has already referred several denaturalization cases to the Justice Department, with more expected.
- In fiscal year 2024, Biden’s final year in office, more than 818,000 people became US citizens—up from 625,000 in 2020, Trump’s last year of his first term.
Edlow argued that the current test is too easy. Instead of the current 10-question civics test, he advocates for a standardized version that applicants would take at a testing center. He also suggested adding an essay question, such as “What does it mean to be an American?” or “Who was your favorite Founding Father?” to show a deeper commitment to US values.
While there’s no set timeline, Edlow said he hopes to implement changes within the next year.
Latest moves by USCIS:
- The agency has already brought back the 2020 version of the test, which officials say was easier under Biden.
- New guidance has been issued for assessing English proficiency and deciding whether applicants meet the “good moral character” requirement.
- Immigration lawyers warn that these changes could lead to more lawsuits when applications are denied.
Edlow defended the new memo, saying it provides officers with examples of qualities that show good moral character, such as community service, caregiving, education, and stable employment. But he also admitted that determining character is not a “black and white” process, as per AXIOS.
Critics push back:
Some lawyers argue the new standards open the door to bias. “They are creating room for arbitrary decisions based on race or other factors,” said Eric Welsh of Reeves Immigration Law Group. He called it a dangerous move.
Others note that US immigration law already deals with criminals, who can be deported. Welsh said the new rules are targeting non-criminal immigrants instead.
Jeff Joseph, president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, added that USCIS is supposed to handle benefits like visas and citizenship, while enforcement falls to agencies such as ICE and Customs and Border Protection. “This crosses the line,” he said.
Edlow said his priority is cracking down on fraud in the immigration system. “We are a law enforcement agency,” he said, framing the changes as part of tougher immigration enforcement.