Activists Up In Arms Over New US Citizenship Test

[user437490845hjgd]

US to unveil new citizenship test

Starting this winter, questions will center on American ideals rather than historical factoids.

By Ben Arnoldy | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
BOSTON

To gain American citizenship, immigrants must be able to answer such questions as: What was the 49th state added to our Union? What color are the stars on our flag? And who wrote the Star Spangled Banner?

Sound trivial? The US government thinks so, and plans to roll out a new pilot test this winter.

It will continue to be an oral test, conducted in English, and will have 10 questions. Six correct answers will earn a passing grade. But the content, which is tightly under wraps, is expected to shun simple historical facts about America that can be recounted in a few words for more explanation about the principles of American democracy, such as freedom.

The changes raise the bar - critics say too high - for immigrants to show not only that they care enough to study for a test, but also that they understand and share American values. Behind the shift is rising anxiety among Americans about high levels of immigration and European troubles with large, unassimilated communities, say observers.

"Whenever there is a large number of immigrants, people talk about having an assimilation policy," says John Fonte, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, a think tank in Washington. "We've always had an Americanization policy of some type [but] we haven't so much in the last 20, 30 years.... I'd see this as continuing that tradition, which Europe did not do."

Immigrant advocacy groups are wary of the changes, which coincide with a review at the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) agency that is expected to call for a substantial hike in the $400 citizenship application fees.

"The administration is putting up [another] wall to citizenship for immigrants between a longer application process, higher fees, and what may very well be a more difficult test," says Ali Noorani, of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition. "Immigration is a culture war today. Is the way to lessen the rhetoric in that war to administer a new test?"

Mr. Noorani is withholding final judgment on the changes until they become public Nov. 29.

The revisions are an effort, say officials, to make the test a more teachable moment - without making it more difficult. The questions and answers - which will be publicly available - are expected to draw on concepts in the nation's founding documents. The pilot will be rolled out on a trial basis in 10 cities across the country, including Boston. During the pilot project, if participants fail, they can retake the regular test.

"Look at the Bill of Rights and some of the values and rights that are enshrined in [it]. Those could possibly be test question topics [as could] the meaning of democracy, the meaning of freedom," says Shawn Saucier, spokesman for the USCIS, adding that some immigrants "come from a culture, a government, a society that is completely removed from our concept of government."

Historians with the USCIS explain that officials have long tried to determine whether a potential citizen feels "attachment" to America. For years that has been interpreted as demonstrating knowledge of the country. The purchase of war bonds and participation in wartime recycling were also seen as proof of attachment.

Canada offers a test similar to the current US one. Other Western nations that are concerned about assimilation are now requiring tests, says Mr. Fonte, and some are taking it a step further. The Netherlands shows a video featuring gay men and beach-going women to ensure that newcomers - particularly Muslims - will be comfortable with the country's liberal social mores. Australia is reportedly considering a test with questions about the sport of cricket.

The changes in the US bring the test closer to the notion sweeping Europe that gaining citizenship requires subscribing to a set of shared values - though no one is likely to be quizzed about the ins and outs of baseball any time soon.

"The receiving nations have been more or less acquiescent - and in a certain sense dissuaded - from foisting expectations of robust civic attachment on the part of the newcomers. And that has had consequences," says John Keeley at the Center for Immigration Studies, citing the terror plots in Britain. "Now we are reconceptualizing what our expectations are."

Fred Tsao, of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, doubts attachment can be discerned from a test, and blames some of Europe's troubles on unwelcoming policies. His organization joined more than 220 immigrant groups in sending a letter to the USCIS, stating concerns that the new test will raise the bar too high for those with less education.

Both sides agree that citizenship tests are not the only part of assimilation. "For somebody who has come to America for political or religious freedom, every single day is a learning moment, every single day is a moment to cherish. The assumption that a test is going to capture all of that and make everybody get along is a little bit delusional," says Noorani.

Still, the citizenship process has been meaningful for many immigrants, experts say.

"It's valuable as a ritual. Just like someone who is [undergoing] a first communion or a bar mitzvah, they are learning something beforehand, they are going through this process, and there's a ritual or a ceremony at the end ... that's very emotional for people," says Fonte.

and

Activists Up In Arms Over New Citizenship Test

Typical questions on the old US citizenship test include: “How many states are there in the United States?”; “Where is the White House located?”; and “What are the 49th and 50th states of the Union?”

The US government is scrapping this test, which requires nothing more than rote memorization of facts, in favor of a new 10-question oral exam conducted in English that tests an immigrant’s grasp of the principles of American democracy, including the freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. The change is meant to counteract a 20-30 year retreat from emphasizing Americanization in favor of multiculturalism – a reaction, in part, to the worsening cultural and societal problems caused by large populations of unassimilated immigrants in Europe.

Chris Bentley, spokesman for the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) agency tells The Washington Times that the proposed test for naturalized citizenship has its roots in a report by a Clinton administration commission headed by former Rep. Barbara Jordan that emphasized "effective Americanization of new immigrants, that is the cultivation of a shared commitment to the American values of liberty, democracy and equal opportunity," including policies to "help newcomers learn to speak, read and write English effectively."

More than 220 immigrant organizations signed a letter to USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez that charges the new test is an insurmountable barrier for "poorer legal immigrants with less English and less education" to getting US citizenship, The Washington Times reports.

Looks good to me...

[NuggzTheNinja]

It's a good idea.

Too bad the immigrants will just run the border when they fail the test.

[Dr.Strange]

Originally Posted by NuggzTheNinja

It's a good idea.

Too bad the immigrants will just run the border when they fail the test.

Its a great idea.

The far left wing organization, ACLU is going to be throwing a fit.

[TricepsNGirls]

Hm, this is difficult. Few people in this day and age adhere to ideals and concepts from "the nation's founding documents", so the new test would be no more practical than the old.


I liked the old one because it was politically neutral, you had to put in effort to study, and by the end, you'd be more educated than the average American about American history. I get a bad feeling that this new test tries to indirectly indoctrinate immigrants with some kind of compatible mentality, which really doesn't work at all. People will continue memorizing just as they do for any other one-time test.

Obviously the "meaning of democracy" means more to immigrants than natives who know of no other way of life. Trying to extract a premeditated response for such kinds of questions is quite contrived, really.

[Barry Bonds]

There's a million more behind you.

[Shagrath]

does anyone think the US has enough people as it is?

[HoosierBoy]

Alaska, white, and Francis Scott Key.

No cheating on my part.

[xer0xed]

Originally Posted by TricepsNGirls

Hm, this is difficult. Few people in this day and age adhere to ideals and concepts from "the nation's founding documents", so the new test would be no more practical than the old.


I liked the old one because it was politically neutral, you had to put in effort to study, and by the end, you'd be more educated than the average American about American history. I get a bad feeling that this new test tries to indirectly indoctrinate immigrants with some kind of compatible mentality, which really doesn't work at all. People will continue memorizing just as they do for any other one-time test.

Obviously the "meaning of democracy" means more to immigrants than natives who know of no other way of life. Trying to extract a premeditated response for such kinds of questions is quite contrived, really.

If they memorize it the same regardless, why would you care either way?

People coming to gain citizenship from the outside should know the principles of the American Republic. We shouldn't want a bunch of ignorant lovers of tyranny gaining access to our voting booths and political system.

[BackToBasics]

Originally Posted by Shagrath

does anyone think the US has enough people as it is?

Yes; about 12-25 million too many already.

[xer0xed]

Originally Posted by Shagrath

does anyone think the US has enough people as it is?

Yep, there needs to be a moratorium on Mexico for at least a decade with a military deployment down there. Immigration from other sources should be restricted as well.

[BackToBasics]

Absolutely. This practice of importing the world's destitute needs to come to a screeching halt.

[coontang]

I find it funny that 90% of natural born citizens probably couldn't answer those questions.

[Ruthless4Life]

The meaning of freedom and democracy--the moment you define those words, you defeat their purposes. People have tried to define these words through hundreds and hundreds of books, yet not one person has given a true meaning, because there is no true definition. These are just words. They have no meaning. What they mean is what each of us make them to be.

Trying to define freedom and democracy is just as a waste of time as trying to define the meaning of life in a single sentence. What's great about freedom and democracy is that we have the freedom and democracy to define it however we want. That is what freedom and democracy mean. No some bull**** the governments tell us on what they mean.

When you have to define these words a certain way the government tells us--that's not freedom and democracy. What a bull**** test.

[Fitqb]

That's retarded... what is this, a f*cking game show?

Those "trivia" questions (that's what they are) are irrelevant and very contradictory considering there are tens of millions of Americans who can't even answer all of those correctly.

If you're willing to let someone come into your country and they're not a threat, then let them... don't make pass some worthless test that has no relevance to anything, only so you can have the authority to reject them while sitting on your high horse.

Stupid.

[user437490845hjgd]

Originally Posted by Fitqb

That's retarded... what is this, a f*cking game show?

Those "trivia" questions (that's what they are) are irrelevant and very contradictory considering there are tens of millions of Americans who can't even answer all of those correctly.

If you're willing to let someone come into your country and they're not a threat, then let them... don't make pass some worthless test that has no relevance to anything, only so you can have the authority to reject them while sitting on your high horse.

Stupid.

What is stupid is the current test (is that what you are referring to?) - a collection of random factoids (if it is what you are referring to, I agree 100%). It appears that the new test will make at least a half-assed attempt to see if the test-takers understand the system of government. The test is not "to let them in". It is for citizenship, which includes, most important of all, the right to vote.

Typical questions on the old US citizenship test include: “How many states are there in the United States?”; “Where is the White House located?”; and “What are the 49th and 50th states of the Union?”

The US government is scrapping this test, which requires nothing more than rote memorization of facts, in favor of a new 10-question oral exam conducted in English that tests an immigrant’s grasp of the principles of American democracy, including the freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. The change is meant to counteract a 20-30 year retreat from emphasizing Americanization in favor of multiculturalism – a reaction, in part, to the worsening cultural and societal problems caused by large populations of unassimilated immigrants in Europe.

And the millions of Americans who cannot answer the previous (and likely the new) test questions are a testament to the state of the public k-12 education system.

[Fidelis]

They should force all Americans to take this same test for the same stakes.

[Dr Triceps]

Originally Posted by Dr.Strange

Its a great idea.

The far left wing organization, ACLU is going to be throwing a fit.

The ACLU will throw a fit because they themselves would fail the test.

[concept]

So they are changing a test based on objectivity to a completely subjective test? Sounds like "If you don't think like the masses you won't get your citizenship" to me.

[HoosierBoy]

Originally Posted by Ruthless4Life

The meaning of freedom and democracy--the moment you define those words, you defeat their purposes. People have tried to define these words through hundreds and hundreds of books, yet not one person has given a true meaning, because there is no true definition. These are just words. They have no meaning. What they mean is what each of us make them to be.

Trying to define freedom and democracy is just as a waste of time as trying to define the meaning of life in a single sentence. What's great about freedom and democracy is that we have the freedom and democracy to define it however we want. That is what freedom and democracy mean. No some bull**** the governments tell us on what they mean.

When you have to define these words a certain way the government tells us--that's not freedom and democracy. What a bull**** test.

I don't think they're asking for a masters thesis on the meaning of freedom. If someone can't outline the basic skeleton of our republic, they shouldn't be given citizenship.

[okdude]

Originally Posted by Fidelis

They should force all Americans to take this same test for the same stakes.

You mean take away their citizenship if they fail, and demote them to PR? I have actually seen those questions ask on Jay Leno when he was interviewing folks on the streets. A ****load of ppl couldn't answer them. Of course, I couldn't tell who was a citizen and who wasn't.
It would be kind of funny to see millions of americans suddenly lose their citizenship, because they failed the test.

[HoosierBoy]

Originally Posted by Fitqb

If you're willing to let someone come into your country and they're not a threat, then let them...

Great! Then we can have even more voters every election who don't even know how many branches of government there are.

[Fitqb]

Originally Posted by HoosierBoy

Great! Then we can have even more voters every election who don't even know how many branches of government there are.

The retards needs to be represented too...

Your vote is your voice, and whether you're ignorant or a genius, you should be able to participate in who should be in office.

[ElMariachi]

Originally Posted by coontang

I find it funny that 90% of natural born citizens probably couldn't answer those questions.

LOL. repped

[ElMariachi]

Originally Posted by Fidelis

They should force all Americans to take this same test for the same stakes.

I'd be all for that personally At the very minimum, a voter intelligence test, quizzing people on basic things, such as how many members of the Supreme Court there are, how many years a Senator will be in office for, who your state governor is, who the Secretary of State is, who your local Congressional Representative is, and a couple easy questions on the Bill of Rights.

If you don't pass, you can't vote. That would greatly eliminate the idiot factor, people who go and vote or get paid to vote, for a single letter(D,R), without knowing ANYTHING about any of the issues.

[HoosierBoy]

Originally Posted by Fitqb

The retards needs to be represented too...

Your vote is your voice, and whether you're ignorant or a genius, you should be able to participate in who should be in office.

People who don't even have a cursory understanding of the concept of our government should NOT be permitted to vote. I hope Congress does something about this in my lifetime.

[974g63awd]

[QUOTE=Fitqb]The retards needs to be represented too...

They are. In fact, they just took the House.

[Ruthless4Life]

Originally Posted by HoosierBoy

People who don't even have a cursory understanding of the concept of our government should NOT be permitted to vote. I hope Congress does something about this in my lifetime.

How would the government determine who has a good "understanding" of those people in charge? This would give any government an excuse to exclude certain people (those who have different opinions) from voting. This argument is what totalitarian governments make--that the people are not educated enough to make decisions for themselves.

[Project_BelAir]

well, it doesnt really matter for me because ill have to get it because im going to be a DEA agent after college hopefully and of coure you need be a us citizen to be one. sucks my parents didnt come to america 3 months ahead(i was 3 months old when i came to america, im pretty much americanized i even i have a huge accent in my native language ). the point im making here is that if you went threw school here and youre not brain dead you will know this stuff, but non schooled immigrants wont have it as easy...BUT...it will be 10 times easier now then before.

[HoosierBoy]

Originally Posted by Ruthless4Life

How would the government determine who has a good "understanding" of those people in charge? This would give any government an excuse to exclude certain people (those who have different opinions) from voting. This argument is what totalitarian governments make--that the people are not educated enough to make decisions for themselves.

I'm not talking about people with differing opinions. I'm talking about people who can't even name one member of the Supreme Court, or who don't know how many chambers in Congress, or who don't know what the Electoral College is.

[LuckyDragon]

Howabout: Do you swear on your respective religion that you do not believe in Sharia?

Yes(fail)

No(pass!)

Refuse to answer question(immediate detention and removal from country)