In 2020, then President Donald Trump changed the Immigration and Naturalization Test to require those seeking U.S. citizenship to have a better understanding of the English language. But when Joe Biden took office, he signed an executive order returning the citizenship test to its previous version.
Now, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has proposed to update the test to add a speaking section to assess English skills. An officer would show photos of ordinary scenarios – like daily activities, weather, or food – and ask the applicant to verbally describe the photos. In the current test, an officer evaluates speaking ability during the naturalization interview by asking personal questions the applicant has already answered in the naturalization paperwork.
It will also require enhanced knowledge of civics.
In December, U.S. authorities said the test was due for an update after 15 years. The new version is expected late next year.
Ira Mehlman, media director for the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), supports the changes.
"We should have reasonable standards for people who are becoming U.S. citizens, and among those should be a command of the base language of this country, which is English," he submits. "It is not unreasonable to ask people to have at least a decent command of the language before they become citizens of this country and also a decent command of history and understanding of what this country stands for and what it's all about."
"We shouldn't be lowering the bar for people," Mehlman adds. "It was never set that high in the first place."
But some immigrants and advocates claim the coming changes will hurt test-takers. They think the fact that many of the people who are coming through the process are basically illiterate in their own languages ought to indicate a problem with America's basic immigration policy and that a more merit-based policy should be adopted.
"We're living in the 21st century, and basic literacy is a very, very important component," Mehlman argues. "We need people who can compete and contribute in the 21st century."
He believes those standards need to extend to immigration.
