USCIS Director Joseph Edlow has announced sweeping immigration policy changes, including a tougher naturalization test and stricter oversight of the H-1B visa program. He criticized the current test as too easy and called for an overhaul to better reflect Congress’ intent and the expected assimilation of new citizens.
Under the current format, naturalization applicants must correctly answer six out of 10 civics questions randomly selected from a list of 100, covering topics like the Constitution, U.S. history, geography and civic responsibilities. They must also read one sentence aloud and write one simple sentence correctly in English. Edlow says that’s not enough. He wants the test to probe deeper — presenting a broader cross-section of U.S. principles — and for English skills to be evaluated throughout the entire naturalization interview, not just in isolated reading and writing exercises.
Edlow emphasized the need for a more rigorous assessment of English proficiency, suggesting that adjudicators should engage in prolonged conversations during the interview process to gauge a candidate’s ability to understand and apply the language. He also pointed to the recent executive order declaring English as the national language, calling language fluency an imperative part of the American dream.
In addition to reforming the naturalization process, Edlow has also targeted the H-1B visa system, which allows U.S. companies to hire high-skilled foreign workers in specialty fields. He criticized the program for being exploited by companies that hire the highest-skilled workers at the lowest wages, thereby undercutting U.S. graduates, especially in STEM fields. Edlow cited examples of third-party contracting firms helping employers lay off American workers, sometimes even requiring them to train their own foreign replacements.
Vice President JD Vance has echoed similar sentiments, criticizing Microsoft for laying off around 9,000 American workers while applying for 4,700 H-1B visas. Vance called out the scenario as a disingenuous narrative, stating, ‘I don’t want companies to fire 9,000 American workers and then to go and say, we can’t find workers here in America.’ That’s a bulls**t story.’
The H-1B visa program has become a political flashpoint within the Republican Party, creating a rift between MAGA populists and pro-business conservatives. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has publicly supported the H-1B visa program, vowing to ‘go to war’ in its defense and branding its Republican opponents as ‘hateful, unrepentant racists.’
To address these concerns, Edlow announced that USCIS will work with the Department of Labor to expand worksite enforcement and ensure that wages and job functions align with what’s specified in the visa applications. He emphasized the need to ensure that those brought over are truly commensurate with the roles they’re filling and not part of a cost-cutting scheme.
Edlow also mentioned the planned revisit of the public charge rule, which bars green cards for applicants likely to become reliant on public assistance. The rule has existed in various forms for over a century but was more strictly applied during the Trump administration. The Biden administration later modified the guidance to exclude non-cash benefits like Medicaid or housing aid. Edlow acknowledged that changes would take time and called for a careful review of means-tested benefits to determine if they pose a burden on U.S. taxpayers.
Finally, Edlow highlighted the growing USCIS case backlog as a top operational threat, noting that it carries national security implications. He blamed the Biden administration for shifting agency resources away from legal immigration priorities in response to record-breaking illegal border crossings. While he pledged to reduce adjudication times, Edlow warned that shortcuts will not be part of the strategy, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the integrity and security of the system.