Civics test for American citizenship changes this week

Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 09/28/2008 10:13:00 PM PDT

Starting this week, immigrants will have to show a deeper understanding of U.S. history and government if they want to become citizens.

The federal government on Wednesday will begin administering a new civics test to citizenship applicants.

Federal officials said the revised test stresses the fundamental concepts of American history and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

The goal is to improve the assimilation of immigrants into U.S. society, officials said.

"I think it's going to help people have a better understanding of their role as a U.S. citizen, what citizenship brings to them and what they bring to citizenship," said Sharon Rummery, a spokeswoman for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Citizenship applicants who file before Wednesday can take either the current or new exam.

Those who apply on or after Wednesday must take the new test.

Applicants can study from a list of 100 civics questions to prepare for the new test.

During the naturalization interview, an immigration officer will ask the applicant 10 of the questions. The applicant must correctly answer six questions to pass that portion of the interview.

Legal immigrants also must pass an overhauled English reading and writing test in order to become citizens.

Immigrant-rights groups say that becoming a citizen is more important than ever.

Federal agents are stepping up workplace raids across the country. Many localities, including San Bernardino County, are working closely with federal officials to enforce immigration laws.

"Becoming a U.S. citizen is the only way to make sure you always remain in the country," said Emilio Amaya, who runs the San Bernardino Community Service Center, a nonprofit that helps Latinos with immigration and other services. "Having a green card is like being on probation."

Legal permanent residents detained for offenses such as driving under the influence are increasingly being placed in deportation proceedings, he said.

There are other advantages to citizenship.

U.S. citizens can file petitions to bring their parents, siblings and married adult children into the country.

Citizens are also eligible to get federal jobs and receive welfare and Social Security benefits that aren't available to noncitizens.

Amaya applauded the new test as an important step toward improving civic participation.

"We don't want people just to get a paper saying they're a citizen and that's it," he said. "We want them to understand the implications of being a citizen and the fact that they have responsibilities such as voting and participating in the political process."

Libreria del Pueblo, a nonprofit immigrant assistance group in San Bernardino, offers citizenship classes to Latinos.

Patricio Guillen, the organization's executive director, said the government should make additional accommodations for elderly people that want to take the test in their native language.

"There's a high rate of illiteracy among immigrants," Guillen said. "Some of them don't even know their own language. That's what makes it difficult to learn English."

Rummery said that applicants who are at least 50 and have had a green card for 20 years, or are at least 55 and have had a green card for 15 years, can do the oral interview in their own language.
NEW CIVICS TEST - WHAT WILL CHANGE?

The federal government on Wednesday will begin administering a new civics test that stresses the fundamental concepts of American history and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship to citizenship applicants. The goal is to improve the assimilation of immigrants into American society, officials said.