What's Happening?
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has introduced a revised civics test for individuals applying for naturalization. Effective from October 20, the new test requires applicants to answer 20 questions, randomly selected from a pool of
128, with a minimum of 12 correct answers needed to pass. This updated version places a greater emphasis on American history and includes questions that require longer responses. The changes are part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to increase scrutiny on citizenship applications, with potential implications for revoking citizenship in certain cases.
Why It's Important?
The revision of the civics test is significant as it reflects the administration's focus on ensuring a deeper understanding of American history and governance among new citizens. This move could potentially make the naturalization process more challenging, particularly for non-native English speakers, as noted by Jonathan Wong, an instructor with USCitizenshipTest. The changes may impact the rate of successful naturalizations and could influence the demographic composition of new U.S. citizens. Additionally, the increased scrutiny on citizenship applications aligns with broader immigration policies under the Trump administration, which have been characterized by heightened enforcement and regulatory measures.
