In a bold move, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under President Donald Trump has unveiled a revamped citizenship test study guide for 2025 that shifts focus from diversity to national unity, as Breitbart reports.

The guide, titled “One Nation, One People,” prioritizes loyalty to American values and assimilation, igniting controversy among politicians, pro-migration advocates, and commentators.

In early 2025, DHS, through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, released an 88-page booklet to help migrants prepare for the U.S. citizenship test.

This test is taken by around 800,000 individuals annually. The new guide introduces a significant change in tone and content compared to previous versions.

Test sees shifting focus

Titled “One Nation, One People,” the study guide emphasizes a unified American identity over themes like diversity or the idea of a “Nation of Immigrants.” References to the latter are notably reduced. Instead, the booklet highlights the importance of embracing American culture and norms.

The guide instructs applicants that taking the Oath of Allegiance means pledging loyalty to the United States. It also requires them to renounce allegiance to other nations and commit to defending the U.S. Constitution and laws. The word “citizen” or related terms appear over 40 times, while “immigrant” is rarely mentioned.

“When applicants for naturalization take the Oath of Allegiance, [the naturalized citizens] make important promises of loyalty to the United States [including to] give up loyalty to other countries [and to] defend the Constitution and laws of the United States,” the guide states. This language aims to underscore a singular commitment to the nation.

New questions raise concerns

The updated test now includes 128 questions, nearly double the number from the 2008 version. These questions cover topics such as historical figures like Alexander Hamilton and Dwight Eisenhower, as well as constitutional elements like the 10th Amendment. Critics argue that even native-born Americans might struggle with the increased complexity.

Pro-migration and progressive groups have voiced opposition to the revised test. They highlight its heightened difficulty and the English-only requirement as barriers to citizenship. Many believe these changes could limit access for aspiring citizens.

An op-ed from MigrantInsider.com on Sept. 17 criticized the overhaul, stating, “You’ve got to answer 128 questions, twice as many as before, about Alexander Hamilton and Dwight Eisenhower and the 10th Amendment -- while the real Americans, the ones born here, couldn’t tell you which war Eisenhower fought in or what the 10th Amendment even says if you spotted them the words ‘states’ rights.’” The piece suggests the test is designed to exclude rather than include. It further argued, “The new citizenship test is the same old story: raise the bar, shrink the circle, and pretend it’s about patriotism.”

Symbolism, historical context debated

The guide also reinterprets national symbols, such as the Statue of Liberty, focusing on its representation of freedom and democracy.

It traces the statue’s origin to an 1886 gift from France, aligning with a historical view of liberty rather than migration. A dedicated chapter discusses the statue’s symbolism, location, and background.

In contrast, Democrats often cite a 1903 plaque with an 1883 poem to frame the statue as a beacon for immigrants. The booklet, however, offers minimal coverage of immigration history, briefly noting Ellis Island as a processing center for over 12 million immigrants between 1892 and 1954.

Former President Barack Obama, speaking on Oct. 16, reflected on a different vision, saying, “There’s never been an experiment like this, where you have people from every corner of the globe show up in one place.”

He emphasized shared ideals as a unifying force. Obama added, “I think George W. Bush believed that… I know John McCain believed it. I know Mitt Romney believed it.”

Assimilation vs. multiculturalism

Jessica Vaughan, policy director at the Center for Immigration Studies, supported the guide’s approach in comments to Breitbart News. She stated, “The words are meant to set the tone that if they’re becoming an American citizen, they’re choosing loyalty to the United States over their home country.”

Vaughan further explained, “It sends the signal [to migrants] that our expectation by allowing them to have the privilege of U.S. American citizenship is that they will consider themselves Americans and embrace our culture and our norms and our values.” She contrasted this with countries like Belgium, where multiculturalism has led to division. She noted, “The American experience has been the opposite by successfully assimilating people of all kinds of cultures, races, and languages [into] a common culture.”

The Trump administration has actively promoted the “One Nation” theme through social media and other platforms. As debates continue, the new citizenship guide remains a flashpoint in discussions about identity, belonging, and the path to becoming American. The clash of perspectives on unity versus diversity is likely to shape future policy and public opinion.