The proposed reality TV show titled “Americans,” which aims to have immigrants compete for a chance at naturalization outside the Capitol Steps, remains somewhat ambiguous in terms of official support from the Department of Homeland Security. Despite its unclear status, it faces significant criticism.
According to the New York Times, under Secretary Christie Noem, the Department has often utilized a mix of propaganda and reality TV strategies to highlight President Trump’s challenging immigration policies.
Essentially, it’s framed as a sort of citizen competition—like a hunger game for citizenship—where participants are streamlined through the naturalization process. However, this angle overlooks some of the positive aspects at play, focusing narrowly on citizenship as an end goal.
There seems to be a lack of awareness about the efforts directed toward undocumented individuals. Importantly, citizenship is available for those who adhere to the rules and work hard, much like how America embraced earlier waves of newcomers.
Actually, this approach doesn’t call for amnesty for undocumented individuals. Pew Research indicates that about 13.5 million legal immigrants currently aren’t citizens, even though only around 730,000 are naturalized each year. A concentrated effort to boost naturalization could benefit both America and the new citizens.
To become a citizen, one must pledge to “support and defend the Constitution and Law of the United States,” including a commitment to bear arms if necessary.
A spike in naturalization rates could also enhance fairness in elections. Disturbingly, congressional districts are structured by the number of residents—not citizens—creating disparities, particularly where Democrats benefit from high concentrations of non-citizen populations.
For instance, in New York’s Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s district, 46% of residents are foreign-born, yet only 192,000 votes were cast in 2024, compared to 399,000 in the previous year. Non-citizens cannot vote or formally engage with government.
The Center for Immigration Research highlights that in many areas, over one in four adults aren’t American citizens. This demographic electoral imbalance suggests that Democrats require fewer votes to secure wins in districts with high non-citizen populations. Despite past trends showing support for Trump among Hispanic voters, it’s tough to predict how newly naturalized citizens will lean politically.
Nonetheless, the path to citizenship contains significant hurdles. For example, there’s a hefty fee of $710 per family for the citizenship test. Plus, applicants must study 100 possible questions and demonstrate English proficiency.
While ESL classes exist, they often have long waiting lists and may clash with immigrants’ work schedules. In Chicago, for example, libraries provide citizenship classes exclusively in English, and the initial ESL courses are booked solid.
Even so, the emergence of a new civil rights movement focused on national citizenship is conceivable. Historically, the foreign-born population in the U.S. was around 14.7% in 1910, quite similar to today’s 15.6%. The subsequent assimilation was largely driven by civil society efforts, promoting integration into American life.
For example, the initiative in Chicago’s Italian immigrant neighborhood led by Jane Adams, Hull House’s founder, involved volunteers who provided various supports ranging from nutrition to music lessons.
In her memoir, “Twenty Years at Hull House,” Adams described how settlements created a sense of citizenship by explaining the principles of American institutions. The aim was to “clarify the constitutional basis for autonomous communities.”
There were over 400 similar initiatives nationwide, all dependent on local patronage, and encouraging citizenship was a central theme of the movement.
Today, there are some comparable programs. For instance, in Reno, Nevada, the Northern Nevada Literacy Council pairs immigrants with volunteers to aid in passing the citizenship test. Additionally, in Port Chester, New York, the George Washington Carver Center has added citizenship guidance to its ongoing support for low-income African Americans.
Lillian Waldo, who founded the Henry Street settlement, captured the spirit of promoting national citizenship well in her writing, emphasizing that new immigrants brought enthusiasm for American institutions. She envisioned citizenship as a celebration, akin to a rite of passage.
So perhaps, instead of deriding a reality show that spotlights these issues, we could celebrate the conversation it sparks around citizenship.
