USCIS director calls naturalization take a look at ‘too simple,’ needs overhaul

[ad_1] NEW Now you can take heed to Fox Information articles!

EXCLUSIVE: New Citizenship and Immigration Providers (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow is losing no time shaking up the trail to American citizenship.

Simply weeks into the job, he is calling for a significant overhaul of the U.S. naturalization take a look at — blasting the present model as too mushy and out of step with what Congress envisioned.

In an unique interview with Fox Information Digital, Edlow mentioned the civics and English examination, which varieties the spine of the naturalization course of, fails to mirror the information and assimilation he believes needs to be required to grow to be an American.

"The take a look at must mirror the letter and the spirit of what Congress supposed," Edlow mentioned. "It’s vital for individuals to grasp English, our historical past, our authorities... and the way in which the take a look at is written and executed proper now doesn’t meet that bar."

DOJ DIRECTS US ATTORNEYS TO SEEK TO REVOKE CITIZENSHIP OF NATURALIZED AMERICANS OVER CRIME

<img src="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/07/1200/675/edlow.jpg?ve=1&tl=1" alt="U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Deputy Director for Policy Joseph Edlow and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, applaud and congratulate the new Americans during a naturalization ceremony at the State Department in Washington, U.S. October 22, 2020" width="1200" height="675"/> New Citizenship and Immigration Providers Director Joseph Edlow is losing no time shaking up the trail to American citizenship. (Manuel Balce Ceneta, POOL by way of Reuters )

Beneath the present format, naturalization applicants should accurately reply six out of 10 civics questions randomly chosen from a listing of 100, protecting subjects just like the Structure, U.S. historical past, geography and civic tasks. They have to additionally learn one sentence aloud and write one easy sentence accurately in English.

Edlow says that’s not sufficient. He needs the take a look at to probe deeper — presenting a broader cross-section of U.S. ideas — and for English abilities to be evaluated all through all the naturalization interview, not simply in remoted studying and writing workout routines.

"I would like adjudicators to essentially be listening and speaking all through the interview," he mentioned. "Change up a few of the wording... and see if the people are nonetheless capable of comprehend the questions. That’s a greater gauge of readiness."

Edlow mentioned the take a look at should protect the integrity of the method and mirror assimilation expectations. He additionally pointed to a latest government order declaring English the nationwide language, calling language fluency "an crucial half" of the American dream.

The director additionally took goal at long-standing flaws within the H-1B visa system, which allows U.S. firms to rent high-skilled overseas employees in specialty fields.

KEY IMMIGRATION PROPOSAL VOWS TO END 'BACKDOOR HIRING PRACTICES' IN AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES

"Corporations are going for the highest-skilled employees however paying them on the lowest wage degree," he mentioned. "That’s undercutting U.S. graduates, particularly in STEM fields."

He cited circumstances when third-party contracting corporations helped employers lay off American employees — generally even requiring them to coach their very own overseas replacements — as proof of a program being exploited to suppress wages.

Vice President JD Vance has echoed an identical sentiment. In July, he known as out Microsoft for shedding round 9,000 American employees whereas making use of for 4,700 H1-B visas. "I do not need firms to fireplace 9,000 American employees after which to go and say, 'We will not discover employees right here in America.' That is a bulls--- story."

The visa program has emerged as a political flashpoint inside the GOP, making a rift between MAGA populists and pro-business conservatives.

Vice President JD Vance known as out Microsoft for shedding round 9,000 American employees whereas making use of for 4,700 H1-B visas. (Maddie McGarvey/The New York Instances by way of AP, Poo)

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has mentioned he’d "go to conflict" in assist of the H1-B visa program and branded its Republican opponents "hateful, unrepentant racists."

To tighten oversight of this system, Edlow mentioned USCIS will work with the Division of Labor to broaden worksite enforcement and make sure that wages and job capabilities match what’s on paper.

"We wish to make certain these introduced over are really commensurate with the roles they're filling — and never a part of a cost-cutting scheme," he added.

On the problem of welfare-related immigration policy , Edlow mentioned USCIS is making ready to revisit the public cost rule — a authorized commonplace that bars inexperienced playing cards for candidates more likely to grow to be reliant on public help.

Citizenship and Immigration Providers Director Joseph Edlow is looking for a significant overhaul of the U.S. naturalization take a look at. (Getty Photos )

The rule has existed in some type for over a century however was extra strictly interpreted throughout the Trump administration to incorporate sure non-cash advantages like Medicaid or housing assist. The Biden administration returned to steering that didn't take non-cash advantages under consideration.

Edlow mentioned modifications would take time.

"It’s one thing we’ve obtained to check and get proper," he mentioned. "We have to take a look at the means-tested advantages being supplied and guarantee our adjudicators know what to search for to find out if somebody could be a burden on U.S. taxpayers."

Past coverage modifications, Edlow flagged the rising USCIS case backlog as a high operational menace — one he says now carries nationwide safety implications.

"Backlogs that proceed to develop are nothing in need of a nationwide safety menace to this nation," he mentioned, blaming the Biden administration for shifting company assets away from authorized immigration priorities in response to record-breaking unlawful border crossings.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Whereas he pledged to cut back adjudication occasions, Edlow warned that shortcuts gained’t be a part of the technique.

"There could also be short-term ache," he mentioned. "However we'll lower the backlog at a gradual clip whereas defending the integrity and safety of the system."