Trump USCIS Director Plans Harder U.S. Citizenship Test

Joseph Edlow, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services under President Trump, announced plans to make the U.S. citizenship test more difficult, criticizing the current test as "just too easy." Speaking at a conference hosted by the Center for Immigration Studies, Edlow emphasized the need for the test to better assess applicants' attachment to the Constitution, understanding of civic responsibilities, and English language proficiency. He framed the effort as part of a broader campaign to "declare war on fraud" in the naturalization process, aiming to prevent individuals from gaining citizenship without meeting full responsibilities. The Trump administration has also revived a Bush-era practice of interviewing applicants' neighbors and coworkers to increase scrutiny. This move aligns with President Trump's extensive immigration enforcement efforts, including mass deportations and ICE raids, which have significantly increased deportation numbers. Edlow's statements reflect the administration's broader goal of tightening immigration and citizenship standards.