President Donald Trump’s second term has brought a new approach to how the United States 🇺🇸 welcomes its newest citizens. As of mid-2025, a distinctive welcome message is now played at every naturalization ceremony, marking a clear shift from the tone and content used by previous presidents. This update is not just about words—it reflects a broader change in immigration policy, the experience of becoming a U.S. citizen, and the expectations placed on new Americans.
Let’s break down what has changed, who is affected, what new citizens should expect, and what these changes mean for those with pending applications or those hoping to become citizens in the future.
Summary of What Changed
- New Welcome Message: President Donald Trump’s video message is now played at all naturalization ceremonies. It focuses on citizenship as a “sacred honor” and a “highest responsibility,” calling on new citizens to “fiercely guard the American way of life.”
- Shift in Tone: The message puts strong emphasis on patriotism, respect for the Constitution, and the need for new citizens to fully join and protect American culture and laws.
- Broader Policy Context: This change is part of a larger set of immigration policies that focus on enforcement, assimilation, and stricter requirements for gaining U.S. Citizenship.
- Effective Date: The new message was officially released by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on June 9, 2025, and is now standard at all ceremonies.
Who Is Affected
- New U.S. Citizens: Anyone attending a naturalization ceremony from June 2025 onward will experience this new welcome message.
- Applicants with Pending Cases: Those waiting for their naturalization interviews or ceremonies will be greeted with this message if their ceremony takes place after the effective date.
- Future Applicants: The message and the policies it reflects may shape the experience and requirements for those applying for citizenship in the coming years.
Details of the New Welcome Message
President Trump’s message is more than a simple greeting. It is a call to action for new citizens, stressing that U.S. Citizenship is not just a reward but a duty. Here are the main points:
- Citizenship as a Privilege: The message describes citizenship as a “privilege reserved for those who respect U.S. laws, culture, and history.”
- Guarding American Values: New citizens are urged to “fiercely guard the American way of life,” which means protecting the country’s values, laws, and traditions.
- Assimilation: The message highlights the importance of learning English, following the law, and showing attachment to the U.S. Constitution.
- Patriotism and Responsibility: There is a strong focus on patriotism and the idea that new citizens must take their responsibilities seriously.
How This Differs from Past Presidents
In the past, welcome messages from presidents at naturalization ceremonies often focused on:
- Celebrating Diversity: Previous presidents welcomed immigrants as part of the American family, highlighting the country’s history as a nation of immigrants.
- Inclusion: The tone was usually warm and inclusive, focusing on the contributions immigrants make to the United States 🇺🇸.
- Encouragement: Messages often encouraged new citizens to participate in democracy and to share their unique backgrounds.
President Trump’s message, by contrast, is more focused on:
- Law and Order: Stressing the need to respect and uphold American laws.
- Assimilation over Diversity: Placing more importance on blending into American culture rather than celebrating different backgrounds.
- Vigilance: Calling on new citizens to be active in protecting American values.
Connection to Broader Immigration Policy
This new welcome message is not just symbolic. It fits into a larger set of immigration policies under President Trump’s administration, often referred to as Project 2025. These policies include:
- Limiting Birthright Citizenship: An executive order effective February 19, 2025, tries to stop children born in the United States 🇺🇸 to certain noncitizen parents from automatically becoming citizens. This is a major change from the way the Fourteenth Amendment has been interpreted for many years.
- Expanding Deportations: The administration has made it easier to remove people from the country, even in areas that were previously considered “sensitive” like schools and hospitals.
- Ending Humanitarian Programs: Programs like Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and certain visas for crime victims are being ended or restricted.
- Changing Legal Immigration: The Diversity Visa Lottery is being phased out, and family-based immigration is being limited in favor of a system that gives preference to people with certain job skills or education.
Implications for Pending Applications
If you have already applied for U.S. Citizenship and are waiting for your interview or ceremony, here’s what you need to know:
- Ceremony Experience: If your ceremony is scheduled after June 9, 2025, you will see President Trump’s new welcome message.
- No Change to Application Process: The steps to become a citizen—filing Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization), attending an interview, passing the English and civics tests, and taking the Oath of Allegiance—remain the same. You can find the official form and instructions on the USCIS Form N-400 page.
- Policy Changes May Affect Eligibility: Some of the broader policy changes, like restrictions on birthright citizenship or the end of certain humanitarian programs, could affect who is eligible to apply for citizenship in the future.
- Legal Challenges: Some of these new policies, especially those about birthright citizenship, are being challenged in court. The outcome of these cases could affect future applicants.
Required Actions for New and Prospective Citizens
- Stay Informed: Keep up to date with USCIS announcements and check your ceremony date to know what to expect.
- Prepare for the Ceremony: Be ready to take the Oath of Allegiance and listen to the new welcome message. Understand that the message will focus on responsibility, lawfulness, and patriotism.
- Check Eligibility: If you are planning to apply for citizenship, review the latest requirements on the USCIS Citizenship page.
- Seek Legal Advice if Needed: If you think new policies might affect your eligibility, especially if you have humanitarian status or are concerned about birthright citizenship, consider speaking with an immigration attorney.
Broader Implications for Immigrants and Their Families
The new welcome message and the policies behind it have several effects:
- Tone of Naturalization Ceremonies: The ceremonies now have a more serious and duty-focused atmosphere. New citizens are reminded that their new status comes with expectations to uphold American values and laws.
- Public Perception: The message may influence how the public sees new citizens, focusing more on their responsibilities than on celebrating their journey.
- Pathways to Citizenship: As policies become stricter, fewer people may qualify for citizenship, and the process may become longer or more difficult for some groups.
Expert and Stakeholder Perspectives
- USCIS Officials: Supporters say the message reinforces the seriousness of becoming a U.S. citizen and the need to respect American laws and culture.
- Immigrant Advocacy Groups: Many groups are concerned that the message and related policies make it harder for immigrants to feel welcome and may discourage people from applying for citizenship.
- Legal Analysts: Experts point out that some of the new policies, especially those about birthright citizenship, are likely to be decided in the courts. These legal battles could take years and create uncertainty for many families.
Examples from Recent Ceremonies
At a naturalization ceremony in New Orleans on July 1, 2025, the new message was played right after the Oath of Allegiance. Attendees described the experience as more formal and focused on duty than in past years. Some new citizens said they felt proud to be called to protect American values, while others missed the warmer, more inclusive tone of previous ceremonies.
What This Means for the Future
- Continued Focus on Enforcement: President Trump’s administration is expected to keep pushing for stricter immigration enforcement and more requirements for citizenship.
- Legal Uncertainty: Ongoing court cases, especially about birthright citizenship, mean that some policies could change again depending on the outcome.
- Changing Demographics: With stricter rules, the number and background of people becoming citizens may shift, affecting communities across the United States 🇺🇸.
Actionable Takeaways
- For New Citizens: Be prepared for a ceremony that stresses your responsibilities as a U.S. citizen. Take time to learn about American laws, history, and culture, as these are now central to the citizenship experience.
- For Applicants: Make sure you meet all requirements and stay updated on any policy changes that could affect your application.
- For Families and Advocates: Support your loved ones by helping them understand what is expected of new citizens and by staying informed about ongoing legal and policy developments.
Where to Find More Information
- For official details about U.S. Citizenship, requirements, and the naturalization process, visit the USCIS Citizenship Information page.
- For updates on executive orders and policy changes, check the White House Presidential Actions page.
- For legal forms, including the Application for Naturalization (Form N-400), use the official USCIS form page.
Conclusion
The introduction of President Donald Trump’s new welcome message for new citizens marks a significant change in both the tone and substance of naturalization ceremonies in the United States 🇺🇸. This message, which focuses on responsibility, lawfulness, and patriotism, is part of a broader shift toward stricter immigration policies and a more assimilation-focused approach to U.S. Citizenship. While the core steps to become a citizen remain the same, the expectations and experience for new Americans have changed.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, these changes are likely to have lasting effects on how immigrants experience the path to citizenship and how the country as a whole views its newest members. Whether you are a new citizen, an applicant, or someone supporting a loved one through the process, staying informed and prepared is more important than ever. The journey to U.S. Citizenship now comes with a clear message: with the honor of becoming an American comes the duty to protect and uphold the country’s values, laws, and traditions.
Learn Today
Naturalization Ceremony → An official event where immigrants take the Oath of Allegiance to become U.S. citizens.
Oath of Allegiance → A solemn promise new citizens make to support and defend the U.S. Constitution and laws.
Project 2025 → President Trump’s immigration reform plan emphasizing enforcement, assimilation, and restricted pathways to citizenship.
Birthright Citizenship → The principle granting automatic citizenship to anyone born in the United States, now contested by new policies.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) → A humanitarian program offering temporary legal status to certain immigrants facing unsafe conditions in their home countries.
This Article in a Nutshell
Starting June 2025, U.S. naturalization ceremonies include President Trump’s stern welcome message demanding new citizens protect American laws, values, and culture, signaling stricter immigration policies and shifting the citizenship experience toward responsibility and assimilation.
— By VisaVerge.com
