The Trump administration has unveiled major changes to the U.S. citizenship process, introducing a tougher civics test that critics argue will make naturalization more difficult for immigrants already contributing to the country.
The revised test increases the number of potential questions from 100 to 128 and raises the passing requirement — applicants will now need to answer 12 out of 20 questions correctly, compared to the current six out of 10. The new version closely resembles the 2020 test introduced during Trump’s first term, which was later scrapped by the Biden administration in 2021.
Officials say the changes are designed to “better assess an alien’s understanding of U.S. history, government, and the English language” and to ensure that “traditional American culture and values are protected.” The Department of Homeland Security described the move as part of a broader plan to ensure that aspiring citizens are fully committed to the “American way of life.”
The announcement comes alongside a wider immigration crackdown, including Trump’s pledge to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history and stricter vetting of immigrants’ moral character, social ties, and even social media activity.
Immigration advocates have sharply criticized the move, calling it an unnecessary hurdle that could block legal immigrants from becoming citizens.
“All this does is make it harder for longtime residents who contribute to this country every day to finally achieve the permanent protections that only U.S. citizenship can offer,” said one immigration rights lawyer.
The decision also follows other controversial measures, such as neighborhood interviews of applicants and investigations to ensure they have never voted illegally. Critics argue these policies, combined with recent immigration raids and Supreme Court rulings allowing racial profiling, are part of a larger effort to weaponize immigration enforcement.
When the Biden administration rolled back the previous Trump-era test, it highlighted that the 2008 version was developed with input from over 150 organizations, educators, and historians to maintain fairness — especially for immigrants still learning English.
Advocates warn that bringing back a more challenging test could once again put citizenship out of reach for thousands of immigrants who have lived, worked, and raised families in the United States for many years.
