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119-s-4547119th CongressWALLET

America First Citizenship and Allegiance Act

Sponsored By: Senator Schmitt, Eric [R-MO]

Introduced

Summary

Tighten who can become a U.S. citizen by raising civics and English standards and by creating a mandatory fraud and allegiance framework. This bill would raise testing standards, add required pre-oath instruction, and set new penalties and bars for fraud, concealment, terrorism, or foreign-power conduct.

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  • Prospective applicants would face tougher testing. The English standard would require sufficient ability to read, write, speak, and understand ordinary English including the oath. The civics exam would require an 80 percent passing score and at least 50 percent of questions on core constitutional and civic topics.
  • Applicants with fraud or security concerns would face stricter consequences. A new naturalization integrity rule would mandate denial for specified fraudulent or concealment conduct, create permanent bars for the most serious offenses, and impose a 10-year ineligibility for other material fraud. The bill also requires referrals to immigration and law enforcement agencies and treats many denials as removal priorities.
  • Administration and transparency changes would support the new standards. The Secretary must publish and review study materials at least every four years and report on waivers of English or civics requirements. The bill would require pre-oath instruction and a certification of understanding for oaths after 180 days and applies integrity rules to new and certain pending applications.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Stricter naturalization fraud penalties for immigrants

If enacted, the Secretary would have to deny naturalization when an applicant knowingly lies, uses forged documents, hides material facts, or obstructs background or security checks. The bill would create permanent bars for serious conduct (including terrorism, espionage, violent crimes, trafficking, and fraud that yields over $10,000) and a 10-year ineligibility period for other material fraud. People denied under these rules would generally be treated as a priority for removal and would be barred from many discretionary immigration benefits during any ineligibility period, with narrow exceptions like withholding of removal and Convention Against Torture protections. DHS would keep denial records, must refer credible fraud cases to ICE, DOJ, FBI and others, and higher penalties would apply, including higher civil fines ($2,500–$10,000 or $10,000–$25,000 per violation) and higher criminal prison terms (up to 25 years in the most aggravated cases).

Stricter English, civics, and oath rules

If enacted, applicants filing 180 days after enactment would face tougher English and civics rules for naturalization. The exam would be given in English, require at least an 80% passing score, and at least 50% of questions must cover core constitutional and civic topics. The Secretary would publish revised study materials and run an "America 250 Citizenship Initiative" within 180 days, and update materials at least every four years. For oaths administered 180 days after enactment, applicants would get mandatory pre-oath instruction in English and must sign a written certification under penalty of perjury that they understand the oath; disability accommodations are preserved. The bill would also add and clarify key definitions used in naturalization adjudications effective on enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Schmitt, Eric [R-MO]

MO • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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