How Trump's immigration crackdown made it harder to become U.S. citizen

Geoff Bennett:

Well, today is Citizenship Day, which recognizes everyone who has attained U.S. citizenship and commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution on this day back in 1787.

Amna Nawaz:

But, for immigrants, the path to naturalization has grown more difficult, as the Trump administration has added new requirements and tightened vetting standards.

Our justice correspondent, Ali Rogin, has this look.

Ali Rogin:

In a federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, 60 of the nation's newest Americans take their final steps towards citizenship, sharing where their journeys began.

Woman:

Venezuela.

Woman:

El Salvador.

Woman:

Korea.

Ali Rogin:

Before they all arrived at this moment.

Judge William Fitzpatrick, Eastern District of Virginia: Please rise and raise your right hand. I hereby declare...

Men and Women:

I hereby declare...

Judge William Fitzpatrick:

... on oath.

Men and Women:

... on oath.

Judge William Fitzpatrick:

So help me God.

Men and Women:

So help me God.

Judge William Fitzpatrick:

Congratulations.

Woman:

We're super excited. Me and my husband, we both became citizens.

Man:

I don't think people realize how daunting this journey is. But it's -- I'm so happy to be here.

Ali Rogin:

For most, the journey involves applying for and holding a green card for years, lengthy applications, hundreds of dollars in fees, interviews with immigration officers, an English language test, and finally a civics test, for which applicants spend months studying.

Lucio Arevalo, Green Card Holder:

Definitely am nervous. The nerves are there. The stress is there.

Ali Rogin:

New Mexico resident Lucio Arevalo is nearing the finish line of his naturalization. A green card holder since 1998, he arrived in the U.S. with his parents from Mexico as a baby. He's awaiting his interview date.

Lucio Arevalo:

I am, of course, a permanent resident, but I just feel like there's still that thin line between me actually being, I guess, fully part of the country. So, decided to take that step.

Ali Rogin:

What will it mean to you to take that oath of citizenship?

Lucio Arevalo:

To be honest, it's -- it would be such a big relief.

Ali Rogin:

Relief because he hopes to stop living in fear of President Trump's efforts to deport noncitizens.

Lucio Arevalo:

It is definitely scary to know that there could be that possibility for me to get stopped, I guess, by immigration.

Ali Rogin:

To help prepare for the civics test, Lucio turned to Welcome.US, a national initiative that emerged after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan to help new arrivals through the complicated immigration system.

That's how he met volunteer Dana Van Ostrand, who lives in Iowa and has been helping Arevalo study in virtual sessions.

Dana Van Ostrand, Welcome.US:

It's been a really fun process to not only go through the test, but also just hear of Lucio's life and what he's been about.

Nazanin Ash, CEO and Co-Founder, Welcome.US: There are a lot of changes happening in our immigration system and in whether and how we welcome newcomers.

Ali Rogin:

Nazanin Ash is the CEO and co-founder of Welcome.US.

Nazanin Ash:

It's a process that's rigorous and has always been rigorous, and it's appropriately rigorous. Taking on the responsibilities of citizenship is a commitment that no one takes lightly, least of all the aspiring Americans who are pursuing their dreams.

Ali Rogin:

That dream of becoming American has become more elusive since President Trump returned to office.

In the last year, the administration has introduced a harder civics test with more questions and a higher number of correct answers required to pass, implemented stricter social media vetting, proposed raising the application fee by 75 percent to nearly $1,300, and revived a defunct practice of neighborhood investigations into applicants' moral character.

And the government is processing far fewer naturalization applications today than during the Biden administration, a 75 percent drop-off compared to two years ago. And the rejection rate for naturalization has more than doubled since September 2024 from 9.2 percent to more than 18 percent.

Sometimes, the roadblocks continue all the way to the courthouse. Since President Trump returned to office, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has been abruptly canceling naturalization ceremonies, many of them at the last minute. In fact, today, here at this courthouse, there were supposed to be two ceremonies, but the afternoon session was abruptly canceled just last night.

Immigration officials say the changes are necessary to tighten the system that has become too lax. In a statement to PBS News, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said the agency "has implemented reforms to ensure U.S. citizenship is reserved for those who qualify," adding that: "USCIS will not take shortcuts in the naturalization process. Naturalization is a privilege, not a right."

Van Ostrand says his volunteerism is a way to respond to what he sees as this administration's hostility towards immigrants.

Dana Van Ostrand:

The Trump administration's rhetoric and actions have been quite dehumanizing, in my view, and I wanted to be a part of welcoming people who have already been here.

Ali Rogin:

Back at the Alexandria courthouse, the new citizens receive a parting message from Judge William Fitzpatrick.

Judge William Fitzpatrick:

What I ask of you is to keep working hard, to give life, to give meaning to the oath that you took today by making your voice heard, by making sure that government, your government, reflects your values and your vision for what America can be.

I have signed the final order. It is official. Congratulations to you all. Best of luck. We're adjourned.

Woman:

Congratulations again.

Ali Rogin:

As the gavel falls in the courthouse, the ceremony ends.

Tell me what emotion you're feeling right now.

Woman:

Yes, really happy.

Ali Rogin:

And, outside, 60 new American lives begin.

Woman:

Thank you, and God bless America.

(Laughter)

Ali Rogin:

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Ali Rogin.