President Trump and his administation are again taking steps that could make it more difficult for immigrants to become official US citizens.
From sweeping adjustments to the naturalization process to efforts that have limited refugees and other lawful immigrants’ access to Medicare, critics argue the Trump administration’s approach has added new obstacles for people who are not yet recognized as “real” Americans.
One recent development has raised concerns that almost 400 Americans could ultimately face denaturalization. Naturalization is the legal pathway through which a non-citizen becomes a US citizen, after satisfying requirements set by the Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Alongside that, the administration has issued updated direction tied to Green Card applications, warning that certain conduct could now contribute to an application being rejected.
According to documents reviewed by The New York Times, applicants may now be refused based on political viewpoints they have expressed.
In particular, criticism of Israel is described as a potential red flag. Training materials reportedly point to examples like posting phrases such as ‘Stop Israeli Terror in Palestine’ on social media, characterizing it as ‘questionable speech’.
These materials were reportedly distributed to immigration officers at US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) last month.
Other acts—such as desecrating the American flag or participating in pro-Palestine demonstrations—could also become grounds for denial, PEOPLE reports.
The reporting follows an announcement from USCIS in August that it was revising officer guidance and had ‘expanded the types of benefit requests that receive social media vetting, and reviews for anti-American activity will be added to that vetting’.
USCIS spokesman Matthew Tragesser said at the time: “America’s benefits should not be given to those who despise the country and promote anti-American ideologies. US Citizenship and Immigration Services is committed to implementing policies and procedures that root out anti-Americanism and supporting the enforcement of rigorous screening and vetting measures to the fullest extent possible.
“Immigration benefits—including to live and work in the United States—remain a privilege, not a right.”
These shifts also come as the administration’s broader immigration posture has coincided with higher denial rates across multiple categories, including applications from individuals labeled an ‘Alien of Extraordinary Ability’.
The USCIS website describes this category as someone who can ‘demonstrate extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics through sustained national or international acclaim’.
Forbes reports that in Q4 of 2024, denials for these applicants stood at 25.6 percent. By Q4 of 2025, that figure had risen sharply, reaching 46.6 percent.