English Language Proficiency Act
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate certain exceptions to the naturalization requirement as to understanding the English language, history, principles, and form of government of the United States.
This bill proposes to change the Immigration and Nationality Act by removing specific exceptions that allow some people to bypass the requirement to understand English, U.S. history, government principles, and the U.S. form of government when applying for U.S. citizenship. The goal is to ensure that all applicants have a basic understanding of these subjects to become citizens.
The bill would affect individuals applying for U.S. citizenship who currently qualify for exceptions to the English and civics tests. By removing these exceptions, it would make the naturalization process more uniform and require all applicants to meet the same standards.
As of July 16, 2026, the bill has been introduced in the House and referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. This is the first step in the legislative process, where the committee will review and potentially make changes to the bill before it moves forward for a vote.
