Trump sends message to new Americans: "Our customs are now your customs"

The President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, sent a welcome letter to the new naturalized citizens of the country, reminding them that they now fully share the values, history, and civic responsibilities of the nation.

"Our customs are now your customs. And our Constitution is now yours to safeguard, honor, and respect," the leader wrote in a letter released by the White House and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), as part of the institutional message to those who have obtained citizenship.

Trump congratulated the new citizens "on behalf of my Administration and the American people," and celebrated their decision to become part of "our great and glorious Nation."

"America has always welcomed those who embrace our values, integrate into our society, and pledge their loyalty to our country," he stated in the letter. "By making this pledge, you have forged a sacred bond with our Nation, its traditions, its history, its culture, and its values."

"This rich legacy is now yours to protect, promote, and pass on to the next generation. Our history is now your history. [...] The United States is now your homeland, and you are part of a Nation under God," adds the presidential text.

From USCIS, when sharing the letter on its official networks, they emphasized that it serves as a recognition of those who “embrace our values, integrate into our society, and pledge allegiance to our country.” The White House accompanied the publication with the phrase: “Our legacy is now yours 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.”

The release of the letter coincided with Constitution Day in the United States, and according to reports from the Department of Homeland Security, the presidential message will be delivered at all naturalization ceremonies from now on. The institution framed this action as part of an effort to reinforce the solemnity of the citizenship process and reminded that, under the Trump administration and Secretary Kristi Noem, naturalization is once again treated as “a sacred bond,” with stricter controls and requirements for applicants.

This Wednesday, an exclusive report from The Daily Signal announced that the Trump Administration will reinstate the 2020 model of the naturalization test, which was discarded during Joe Biden's administration. The new version includes 128 possible questions (up from 100), and applicants must correctly answer at least 12 out of 20 oral questions. USCIS explained that these changes aim to “better evaluate applicants' knowledge of U.S. history and government” and to ensure that those who attain citizenship “fully embrace our values and principles as a nation.”

Disability exemptions are also being tightened, moral character checks are being enforced, and neighborhood investigations have resumed to validate compliance with legal requirements. "U.S. citizenship is the most sacred in the world and should be reserved only for those who fully embrace our values," stated USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser.

In 2023, over 33,000 Cubans became U.S. citizens, ranking fifth among the nationalities most represented in the naturalization processes, according to official figures. However, these numbers could decrease due to the tightening of policies under the Trump administration.

In March, President Trump celebrated that US-born workers gained 284,000 jobs, while immigrants lost 87,000 positions, calling it a “historic victory.” During Labor Day, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that 100% of the new jobs generated this year have been for American citizens. According to figures from the Department of Homeland Security, since Trump's return to the presidency in January 2025, the immigrant population in the United States has decreased by over 1.6 million people.

The welcome letter to new Americans concludes with a personal wish from the president to those who are becoming citizens: “Once again, congratulations and welcome. May God bless you, and may He continue to bless the United States of America.”

Frequently Asked Questions about Trump's Welcome Letter to New American Citizens