The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on Tuesday unveiled a letter from President Donald Trump that will be sent to newly naturalized U.S. citizens, the agencies said.
The letter, obtained by Fox News Digital, congratulates recipients and underscores the obligations of the Oath of Allegiance, urging new citizens to “forge a sacred bond with our Nation, her traditions, her history, her culture and her values.” It says the United States is now their homeland and calls on new Americans to safeguard the Constitution and promote the nation’s customs and history.
Trump wrote that “America has always welcomed those who embrace our values, assimilate into our society and pledge allegiance to our country,” and added that the nation offers “the boundless promise of freedom and opportunity.” He also said, “As long as the American people continue to love our country and uphold our values, there is nothing that our Nation cannot achieve.”
DHS released the letter alongside announcements about changes to naturalization procedures. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News Digital that “American citizenship is a sacred trust, and it should never be treated like that,” and said the department is working to ensure those who receive the privilege of citizenship meet their obligations to the country.
Officials said enhanced vetting practices have been reinstated or strengthened, including bringing back neighborhood interviews intended to assess whether applicants meet the standard of good moral character. Sources at DHS told Fox News Digital that the agencies also are identifying instances of non-citizens who registered to vote and that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has overhauled the citizenship test to ensure applicants meet higher standards.
A senior administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal policy changes, said the letter and the procedural changes reflect an effort to highlight legal migration while tightening naturalization processes. The official said the actions are consistent with Trump’s stated immigration priorities, including a focus on deporting those who entered the country illegally during the prior administration and encouraging lawful immigration pathways.
During his first press conference of his second term, Trump said, “I’m fine with legal immigration. We need people and I’m absolutely fine with it — we want to have it,” comments the White House and DHS materials cited in announcing the letter reiterate.
USCIS officials said the letter will be sent to all new citizens starting Wednesday, a date the agencies noted coincides with the Sept. 17 anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia in 1787. Naturalization ceremonies, at which applicants take the Oath of Allegiance, routinely mark the conclusion of the citizenship process; officials said the letter is intended to accompany that milestone and reinforce the responsibilities that come with citizenship.
Advocates for immigrants and some civil liberties groups have in the past criticized increased enforcement measures and stricter vetting as potentially creating barriers to naturalization. DHS and USCIS officials say the reinstated interviews and updated test are designed to ensure applicants meet legal requirements and to protect the integrity of the naturalization process.
The letter follows broader executive branch efforts since the start of the Trump administration to alter immigration enforcement priorities. DHS statements accompanying the release framed the letter as a welcome to those who become citizens legally and a reaffirmation of the administration’s stance on illegal immigration.
USCIS officials did not provide an immediate estimate of how many recipients would receive the letter in the coming weeks, nor did they provide a timeline for how the agency will implement the reinstated interview process nationwide. The agencies also did not provide details on the scope of changes to the citizenship test beyond saying it had been overhauled to raise standards.
The White House and DHS released the text of the letter as the administration continues to implement immigration policies aimed at cracking down on illegal crossings while promoting legal pathways. The letter and the accompanying procedural changes represent the administration’s latest effort to shape the narrative around citizenship and the responsibilities associated with it.
A White House spokeswoman referred further questions about implementation to DHS and USCIS. DHS directed questions about administrative details to USCIS, which referred questions about testing and interviews to its policy offices.
Officials said the agencies will provide additional guidance to field offices and the public as the changes are rolled out, and that the letter will be part of an effort to publicly welcome and recognize those who complete the naturalization process.
Fox News Digital reporter Preston Mizell contributed reporting to the agencies’ announcement.