New Citizenship Concept : Civic Integration
Posted Nov 21, 2003

During a speech on November 13, 2003, USCIS Director, Eduardo Aguirre, explained a new concept that now colors naturalization policy. This term is "civic integration” which is to become the driving force behind the Office of Citizenship. The Office of Citizenship is a relatively new creation that has as its mission the promotion of public awareness of the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship. We wrote about the Office in our September 26, 2003 MurthyBulletin article DHS Watch : Chief of Office of Citizenship Named, available on MurthyDotCom.

Director Aguirre differentiated civic integration from assimilation. He explained, "... assimilation implies that the government defines for the immigrant what it means to be American. We can, and should do everything but. …" He defines civic integration as a choice of allegiance which he describes as our national common denominator. The goal is to have newly naturalized citizens "pick up the torch of American citizenship and carry it for their children's generation." In other words, the aim is to create patriots.

On a practical level, important aspects of the naturalization process are under scrutiny. The English, government, and civics examinations are all under review. The goal is to reduce the arbitrary nature of the current test that consists of ten questions out of a list of one hundred. A committee of university professors has been established to develop questions that "best capture America," and to recommend was of asking naturalization applicants the questions. The goal is to reduce the arbitrary nature of the test, and replace the memorization of 100 random facts with a test that will lead to a greater understanding and retention of the material.

The naturalization ceremony is also in the process of revision, in an effort to make it more meaningful. The oath is an important part of the ceremony. Efforts are underway to revise the oath to eliminate confusing language and archaic words like "abjure" and "potentates." The substance of the oath will not be altered, but Director Aguirre seeks to have a revised version that is "crisp, fervent and meaningful."

Last year, more than 640,000 people became U.S. citizens via naturalization. There was a great surge in naturalization applications following the events of September 11th. See our July 26, 2002 MurthyBulletin article, More Immigrants Seek Citizenship, available on MurthyDotCom. Persons who are interested in U.S. citizenship should review our February 08, 2002 article, Benefits of Becoming a U.S. Citizen as well as our February 15, 2002 article, Basic Eligibility Requirements for Naturalization, both also available on MurthyDotCom.

The wording of the oath, which some find archaic and others find charming or traditional, is currently as follows:

“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by law; that I will perform non-combatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.”