Trump administration reveals changes to the U.S. citizenship test

The administration of President Donald Trump announced the reinstatement of the 2020 citizenship test, a more demanding version of the civics exam that evaluates immigrants' knowledge of the history and government of the United States.

According to a report this Wednesday from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), cited by the news portal The Daily Signal, the changes aim to "better assess applicants' knowledge of U.S. history and government."

The 2025 exam will once again include 128 possible questions, instead of the 100 that were part of the version administered during Joe Biden's administration.

The applicant must correctly answer at least 12 out of 20 randomly selected questions in an oral format. However, the officer may discontinue the test if the candidate answers 12 questions correctly or fails nine, thereby maintaining the same passing threshold as in previous versions.

Previously, the person had to answer 6 out of 10 questions correctly.

"The citizenship exam is a key tool to ensure that those who become naturalized fully embrace our values and principles as a nation," stated USCIS spokesman Matthew Tragesser.

He added that these changes are just the beginning of a more rigorous process in immigration policy.

Among the questions listed in the study guide are: “What does the Constitution do?”, “Name a war fought by the U.S. in the 19th century,” and “Why did the U.S. enter World War I?”.

The evaluation is conducted orally, and candidates have two opportunities to pass it before their application is rejected.

The agency also began to implement other changes since Trump's return to power in January, such as a stricter verification process, thorough reviews of disability waiver applications, and assessments of moral character based not only on the absence of criminal records but also on the social contributions of the applicant.

USCIS also announced that it will resume neighborhood investigations to ensure that those applying for citizenship meet the legal requirements and are "worthy of becoming U.S. citizens."

Fiscal year 2024 ended with an approval rate of over 94% on the citizenship exam, although a more selective process is now anticipated, prioritizing cultural assimilation, proficiency in the English language, and respect for the laws of the country.

USCIS also reported, in an official statement published in the Federal Register, that the implementation of the new citizenship exam is part of a broader effort to restore the integrity of the naturalization process and to fulfill the intentions of Congress.

The agency emphasized that naturalization is not just a procedure, but a privilege that grants foreigners the opportunity to become full members of American society, with important rights and responsibilities.

The text reaffirms that only those who meet all the eligibility requirements will be able to become naturalized, including the ability to read, write, and speak in English, and to demonstrate an understanding of the system of government and civic education in the United States.

USCIS clarified that other recent policies include the automatic disqualification of applicants who have voted illegally, registered to vote without eligibility, or made false citizenship claims. These actions, the agency specified, prevent the demonstration of the requirement of good moral character.

In addition, new guidelines were announced for the officials responsible for assessing this aspect: it will no longer be sufficient to simply confirm the absence of crimes; a holistic evaluation of the foreigner's behavior will be required, taking into account their adherence to social norms and their positive contributions to the community.

The agency also reported that it will resume field investigations in neighborhoods to verify that applicants meet legal requirements and are deserving of obtaining citizenship. Finally, USCIS announced that new initiatives will be announced in the coming weeks and months to further strengthen the naturalization process.

The announcement this Wednesday regarding the reinstatement of a more rigorous version of the citizenship test coincides with a message published by the White House on the social media platform X, where President Donald Trump addressed new American citizens.

“This valuable legacy now belongs to you to protect, promote, and pass on to the next generation. Our history is now your history... And our Constitution is now yours to safeguard, honor, and respect,” wrote the leader.

However, the news is not surprising. Last July, USCIS announced that it was preparing to implement significant changes to the naturalization process and to the H-1B visa system for skilled foreign workers.

In an interview with The New York Times, the agency director, Joseph Edlow, outlined the vision of Donald Trump's administration for the future of the country's immigration policy, marking a new phase in its hardening.

Similarly, in August, the federal agency ordered officials to consider additional factors when determining if immigrants applying for U.S. citizenship have "good moral character."

A memorandum issued by USCIS expands the assessment of "good moral character," stating that such a determination must involve "more than a superficial mechanical review focused solely on the absence of misconduct."

Instead, the review, as the agency indicated to its officials, should be "a holistic assessment of the foreigner’s behavior, their adherence to social norms, and their positive contributions that affirmatively demonstrate their good moral character."

Although demonstrating "good moral character" has long been one of the requirements of U.S. immigration law, which was met if applicants had no disqualifying criminal offenses or behaviors described in the law, the policy published in August establishes a more stringent standard.

Frequently Asked Questions about Changes to the U.S. Citizenship Exam under the Trump Administration