Trump Administration Plans Tougher U.S. Citizenship Test with Essay Requirement

The Trump administration is planning to make the U.S. citizenship test more difficult by introducing an essay requirement. The new measure would give immigration officials broad discretionary power over which applicants are approved for citizenship.

This step aligns with broader administration goals: while pursuing mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, the government is simultaneously seeking to tighten legal immigration pathways—a move drawing criticism from immigration advocates.

Stricter Standards on “Good Moral Character”

The essay proposal comes shortly after officials announced increased scrutiny of applicants’ compliance with the legal standard of “good moral character.”

Joseph Edlow, Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), told Axios that he believes the Biden administration’s standards were too lenient, prompting the government to revoke some previously granted citizenship approvals. He confirmed that several cases have already been referred to the Department of Justice for citizenship revocation, with more expected.

In fiscal year 2024—the last year of President Biden’s term—over 818,000 individuals were naturalized, up from 625,000 in 2020, the last year of Trump’s first term.

Edlow criticized the current 10-question test as being too easy. He envisions a unified test where applicants visit a testing center, answer questions, and demonstrate understanding. He also suggested an essay question on topics like:

• “What does it mean to be an American?”

• “Who is your favorite Founding Father?”
  or other prompts demonstrating a genuine connection to the Constitution.

No official timeline for the rollout has been announced, though Edlow hopes to implement changes “next year, as much as possible.”

Increased Discretion for USCIS Officials

USCIS, which oversees most visas, work permits, green cards, and citizenship applications, has reverted to the 2020 version of the citizenship test, considered easy under the Biden administration. New guidelines also expand how officials evaluate English proficiency and good moral character, as required by law.

Immigration attorneys warn that these steps will increase discretion, likely leading to more legal challenges when citizenship applications are denied. Edlow emphasized that the guidance provides examples for adjudicators to better understand which factors fall under their authority. Traits deemed favorable include:

• Community involvement

• Family responsibilities

• Educational attainment

• Job stability

Concerns About Bias

Critics worry that increased discretion could lead to biased decisions, potentially influenced by factors like race or ethnicity. Immigration attorney Eric Welsh stated:“They are opening the door to more arbitrary and biased decisions. It’s extremely dangerous—a slippery slope.”

Edlow insists USCIS is focused on enforcing immigration laws and preventing fraud in naturalization and immigration processes. Experts note that the main avenue to challenge these changes will be lawsuits moving cases from immigration courts to federal judiciary review.