A New Citizenship Test for the US
“US to unveil new Citizenship Test” - Blog #3
A recent article in the Christian Science Monitor comments on the development of a new citizenship test. There has been quite a bit of commotion concerning illegal immigrants in the news lately. One article in the New York Times describes a situation where a number of workers went on strike after some employees had been fired for not having an explanation as to why their social security numbers did not match their names. The episode gives rise to the broader issue of illegal immigration, and what changes, if any are needed to amend the process. After an immigrant crosses the US border, there needs to be some legal way of assimilating them into United States society. One possible way to accomplish this is the development of a new citizenship test. John Fonte, a longtime member of the Hudson Institute, a think tank in Washington said “We’ve always had an Americanization policy of some type [but] we haven’t so much in the last 20, 30 years,” which points to the need for changes to the existing policy. The modifications that the test will undergo are meant to make it more equitable without increasing the difficulty. The revised test could possibly include some of the values and rights depicted in the Bill of Rights, as well as questions about the meaning of freedom and democracy. The “attachment” that an immigrant feels and their corresponding desire for citizenship are taken into account. The immigrants’ ethnic back round might be radically different from that of the United States. Cultural differences and nationality in a dissimilar society offer significant challenges to potential United States’ citizens. Additionally, the attachment that these hopeful candidates derive from taking part in the process of becoming a citizen is considered and compared to events such as communion or bar mitzvah. These elements are deemed important when making alterations to the test, in terms of relevance and ease of use. The changes in the test will be evaluated in ten cities, including Boston, to test the outcome and effectiveness. Those who take the new test will have a chance to take the old version if they fail. Purposefully, this amendment to the process of becoming a citizen will sustain the meaningfulness it has to immigrants and increase participation.
In 1952 the Immigration and Nationality Act, or INA, was created. Although there had been laws concerning this matter, it was the first time they had been organized in one place. This act has been amended many times but it is still the basic body of immigration law. Further changes, based on the evolving demographics will insure the effectiveness of the Act and an equal opportunity for immigrants to become legal immigrants, with the prospect of citizenship.
A recent article in the Christian Science Monitor comments on the development of a new citizenship test. There has been quite a bit of commotion concerning illegal immigrants in the news lately. One article in the New York Times describes a situation where a number of workers went on strike after some employees had been fired for not having an explanation as to why their social security numbers did not match their names. The episode gives rise to the broader issue of illegal immigration, and what changes, if any are needed to amend the process. After an immigrant crosses the US border, there needs to be some legal way of assimilating them into United States society. One possible way to accomplish this is the development of a new citizenship test. John Fonte, a longtime member of the Hudson Institute, a think tank in Washington said “We’ve always had an Americanization policy of some type [but] we haven’t so much in the last 20, 30 years,” which points to the need for changes to the existing policy. The modifications that the test will undergo are meant to make it more equitable without increasing the difficulty. The revised test could possibly include some of the values and rights depicted in the Bill of Rights, as well as questions about the meaning of freedom and democracy. The “attachment” that an immigrant feels and their corresponding desire for citizenship are taken into account. The immigrants’ ethnic back round might be radically different from that of the United States. Cultural differences and nationality in a dissimilar society offer significant challenges to potential United States’ citizens. Additionally, the attachment that these hopeful candidates derive from taking part in the process of becoming a citizen is considered and compared to events such as communion or bar mitzvah. These elements are deemed important when making alterations to the test, in terms of relevance and ease of use. The changes in the test will be evaluated in ten cities, including Boston, to test the outcome and effectiveness. Those who take the new test will have a chance to take the old version if they fail. Purposefully, this amendment to the process of becoming a citizen will sustain the meaningfulness it has to immigrants and increase participation.
In 1952 the Immigration and Nationality Act, or INA, was created. Although there had been laws concerning this matter, it was the first time they had been organized in one place. This act has been amended many times but it is still the basic body of immigration law. Further changes, based on the evolving demographics will insure the effectiveness of the Act and an equal opportunity for immigrants to become legal immigrants, with the prospect of citizenship.
posted by Fiona | 8:41 PM
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