Full Breakdown
Proposed Changes to Green Card Regulations and Citizenship Test Under Trump Administration
11/6/2025, 10:58:30 PM
Regulatory Changes to Green Card Eligibility
On November 3, 2023, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) submitted a regulatory package that could tighten the public-charge ground of inadmissibility for green card applicants. This proposed rule, which has not yet been published, may increase scrutiny of applicants' use of public benefits. If advanced, this would represent a significant policy shift from the 2022 public-charge rule, which limited the consideration of public benefits to primarily cash assistance for income maintenance and long-term institutional care, excluding most non-cash programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and routine Medicaid.
The public-charge ground of inadmissibility, part of the Immigration and Nationality Act, allows U.S. authorities to deny admission to non-citizens likely to become dependent on government support. The Trump administration expanded the definition of public charge in 2019, including many non-cash benefits, but this was challenged in courts and vacated in 2021. Under the Biden administration, the 2022 rule restored the pre-2019 standard, which generally does not penalize applicants for receiving non-cash benefits.
Implications of the Proposed Rule
The Economic Innovation Group's Labor and Mobility Policy Manager, Sam Peak, expressed concerns about the potential bureaucratic burden, stating, "When the rule was implemented during the last Trump Admin, the paperwork for green cards doubled." He suggested that high-income earners and those with significant assets should be exempt from the proposed rule.
The regulatory package is currently under review by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) and must undergo a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, allowing public comment before any formal changes are made.
Changes to the Citizenship Test
In addition to the proposed changes to green card eligibility, the Trump administration has implemented a revised version of the U.S. citizenship test, effective October 20, 2025. This new test requires candidates to answer 12 out of 20 questions correctly, an increase from the previous requirement of six out of ten. The number of potential questions has expanded from 100 to 128, with a focus on U.S. history and government, while geography questions have been removed.
The changes have raised concerns among community organizations that assist immigrants in preparing for the test. The Esperanza Immigration Legal Services in Philadelphia, for example, has faced funding cuts that limit its ability to provide support for citizenship applicants. Executive Director Anu Thomas noted, "Naturalization has never been a polarizing issue, but we see the administration doing it."
Criticism and Opposition
Critics argue that the new citizenship test and proposed green card regulations may disproportionately affect low-income immigrants and those with limited English proficiency. The increased difficulty of the citizenship test could hinder access to citizenship for many, as 47% of immigrant adults in the U.S. have limited English proficiency.
Legal experts have also raised concerns about the legality of the proposed "gold card" initiative, which would allow wealthy individuals to buy visas traditionally reserved for high-achieving foreign workers. Critics contend that this approach favors wealth over merit, potentially undermining the integrity of the immigration system.
Conclusion
The proposed changes to green card eligibility and the citizenship test under the Trump administration reflect a broader trend toward stricter immigration policies. As these regulations are reviewed and implemented, their impact on immigrant communities and the overall immigration landscape in the United States will continue to unfold.
