Citizenship Delays and Tightening Vetting reshape the American Dream

USCIS tightened naturalization standards in 2025, rolling out new testing and vetting rules that have left many legal residents waiting longer and, in some cases, unable to reach the oath that would make them U.S. citizens.

DHS framed the shift as a move toward stricter screening and “assimilation,” even as the agency’s workload climbed to what officials described as unprecedented levels.

“American citizenship is the most sacred citizenship in the world and should only be reserved for aliens who will fully embrace our values and principles as a nation. By ensuring only those aliens who meet all eligibility requirements. are able to naturalize, the American people can be assured that those joining us as fellow citizens are fully assimilated and will contribute to America’s greatness,” USCIS Spokesperson Matthew Tragesser said on September 17, 2025.

Leadership change and political framing

USCIS has pointed to leadership changes after President Trump returned to office on January 20, 2025, and to a broader reorientation of immigration enforcement and benefits processing under DHS.

“The Biden administration spent four years dismantling, exploiting, and undermining America’s immigration system. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem’s leadership, our border is secure, integrity has been restored to our immigration system, and the safety of our homeland comes first,” USCIS Acting Director Joseph Edlow said on December 22, 2025.

The administration’s messaging emphasized integrity, security, and assimilation, while the agency simultaneously faced a swelling inventory of pending cases that increased pressure on applicants seeking naturalization.

Caseload and approval rates

• As of October 2025, the USCIS pending caseload reached 11.3 million applications, a historic high.
• Despite processing strain, naturalization approval rates remained relatively high: Form N-400 approval rates were approximately 91.1% in Q2 FY2025, according to the summary of official data and policy changes.

Changes to the civics test (2025)

A revamped civics requirement took effect Oct 20, 2025:

• The civics question bank expanded from 100 to 128 questions.
• Test-takers are now asked 20 questions (up from 10).
• Applicants must correctly answer 12 to pass (up from 6).

Important: Applicants must study a wider bank of questions and prepare for a longer, more demanding exam.

A Federal Register notice related to the new naturalization test was cited as “Notice of Implementation of 2025 Naturalization Test (Sept 18, 2025)” at Federal Register: Notice of Implementation of 2025 Naturalization Test (Sept 18, 2025).

Resumption of field investigations and personal visits

USCIS resumed field-style scrutiny that had largely been set aside for decades, enabling officers to corroborate residence and character by speaking with people around an applicant.

• Under Policy Memo PM-602-0189, USCIS ended a 34-year blanket waiver on personal investigations, effective Aug 22, 2025.
• Officers may now:
• Visit an applicant’s home or workplace.
• Interview neighbors and coworkers to verify “good moral character” and residency.

USCIS posted information about the resumption of personal investigations through its policy guidance at USCIS Policy Manual: Resumption of Personal Investigations (Aug 22, 2025).

Broader “good moral character” standard

In August 2025, USCIS broadened evidentiary expectations for “good moral character,” moving beyond merely the absence of criminal history.

• The new framework requires a holistic assessment in which applicants must affirmatively demonstrate “positive contributions.”
• Examples of expected evidence include community involvement and other indicators of constructive civic participation.

This shift increases the burden on applicants to provide documentation and examples beyond standard criminal and immigration records.

Nationality-based pauses and security-driven actions

Late in the year, USCIS issued a security-driven pause affecting some benefit decisions by nationality:

• Following a security incident in Washington, D.C., USCIS issued a memorandum on December 5, 2025 pausing:
• All affirmative asylum decisions, and
• Certain benefit applications for nationals of 19 countries labeled as “high-risk.”
• That list was later expanded to 30 countries.

Reports indicated that some people who had reached the final stage of naturalization were pulled from ceremonies or had oaths indefinitely postponed because of the December 5 security memo.

Effects on applicants — uncertainty and delays

The described disruptions have sharpened concerns among immigrants who view citizenship as:

• The culmination of the American dream, and
• A form of protection against shifting policy winds.

Key impacts on applicants include:

• Longer waits and less predictable timelines.
• Increased emphasis on preparation and documentation for the civics test and for proving daily-life assertions.
• The possibility that officers will seek third-party verification (neighbors, employers, community leaders).
• Nationality-based pauses adding uncertainty for affected groups beyond asylum applications.

Whistleblowers cited in the summary alleged that strict FOIA rejections were being used to hide the extent of these delays from applicants, though the summary did not name individuals or provide additional specifics.

Related changes affecting eligibility for future applicants

Separate from naturalization, the summary reported that many “Dreamers” and TPS holders face the expiration of their legal status in early 2026, with the administration terminating those programs.

• TPS holders from Haiti and Myanmar were specifically highlighted (no dates or further details provided).

These broader benefit shifts can change who remains eligible for naturalization over time because lawful status and continuous residence are central to eligibility.

Official communications and sources

USCIS has published public-facing updates, including a newsroom release tied to the test changes and a policy manual entry related to personal investigations:

• USCIS newsroom release: “Overhaul of American Citizenship Standards (Sept 17, 2025)” is available at USCIS Newsroom: Overhaul of American Citizenship Standards (Sept 17, 2025).
• USCIS policy guidance: USCIS Policy Manual: Resumption of Personal Investigations (Aug 22, 2025).
• Federal Register notice on the test: Federal Register: Notice of Implementation of 2025 Naturalization Test (Sept 18, 2025).
• DHS news release described as “Record Removals and Self-Deportation Statistics (Oct 27, 2025)” is at DHS: Record Removals and Self-Deportation Statistics (Oct 27, 2025).

Messaging, policy rationale, and public perception

USCIS has presented its changes as a recalibration of standards and procedures rather than a reduction in approvals, while acknowledging the process is meant to be demanding.

• Agency language repeatedly emphasizes “integrity,” “rigorous vetting,” and “assimilation” as goals of naturalization.
• The combination of expanded testing, neighborhood checks, and broader “good moral character” reviews has increased the weight placed on preparation and documentation.

“American citizenship is the most sacred citizenship in the world,” Matthew Tragesser said, linking the administration’s approach to the idea that naturalization should be limited to those who “will fully embrace our values and principles as a nation.”

For many applicants, the tension between tougher gatekeeping and a still-high approval rate has been overshadowed by the practical reality of waiting, rechecking paperwork, and preparing for added scrutiny. The changes have reinforced the perception that citizenship is not simply a formality but a threshold shaped by DHS priorities, USCIS procedure, and shifting security judgments.