Wednesday 23 December 2020 10:00
Pale Waves Release Video For ‘She’s My Religion’
New York, NY (Top40 Charts) British indie-pop band Pale Waves have released a deeply personal video for their latest single “She’s My Religion,” which features frontwoman Heather Baron-Gracie and her life partner Kelsi Luck in a series of candid, vulnerable vignettes showing that even the most mundane moments can be transformative when paired with the right person. It was directed by award winning filmmaker and photographer Jess Kohl.The raw and honest second track from their forthcoming full-length Who Am I? – out February 12, 2021, via Dirty Hit – is a non-typical love letter that sees Heather embracing her sexuality to represent a real, queer relationship without hiding behind the clichés of oversexualization or playful experimentation.
“I wanted to give my fans a song to find themselves in,” Heather says of the intimate new video. “I wish I had a song like this when I was a young girl trying to find herself in the world.”
“She’s My Religion” follows lead single “Change,” a catchy, retro-guitar track made up of stories of heartbreak from Heather’s friends, reflecting the different moods and emotions that we all go through. and PRESS HERE to watch the video and PRESS HERE to listen to the song, which was first played as Annie Mac’s Hottest Record In The World on BBC Radio 1, and was recently added the track to Billboard’s Best Tracks of 2020 year-end list.
Who Am I? – the follow-up to the band’s 2018 debut album My Mind Makes Noises which amassed over 70 million streams worldwide, opens up a bold new chapter for Pale Waves. Heather’s songwriting holds the last few years of her life up to the light, reflecting on her own mental health and growing pains – depression, distraction, and feelings of darkness – but also her experience of falling in love and becoming more open about her sexuality, emerging with a newfound clarity and optimism.
Who Am I? acts as the Pale Waves manifesto, inspiring inclusivity, self-discovery, and the notion of being whoever the hell you want to be. On the making of the album, Heather says “for me, music and art is for people not to feel so alone and isolated. I want to be that person my fans look up to and find comfort in.”
Who Am I? was recorded primarily in Los Angeles alongside producer Rich Costey (Muse, Foo Fighters, Sigur Rós), before the Coronavirus lockdown forced the making of the album to go virtual, with Heather remaining in LA and the rest of the band returning home to record their parts in their bedrooms, sending them back to LA to be added into the record.
Pale Waves – comprised of front woman Heather Baron-Gracie (she/her); drummer Ciara Doran (they/them); guitarist Huge Silvani (he/him) and bassist Charlie Wood (he/him) – made an immediate splash when the debuted on the music scene a few year ago, hitting the Top 10 on UK Album Chart, winning the NME Under The Radar award, making the BBC Sound of 2018 shortlist, touring with fellow Dirty Hit label mates and mentors The 1975 as well as Muse and The Cure, and appearing on Late Night with Seth Meyers. They have performed at Reading, Leeds, Lollapalooza, SXSW, and Outside Lands Festival and have received praise from NPR, AV Club, The Fader, Stereogum, Nylon, Billboard, Ladygunn, and more.
EU starts to ease bans over UK virus strain, WHO to meet
Meanwhile, in the United States, President Donald Trump rejected a massive Covid economic relief package passed by Congress, branding it “a disgrace” as millions of Americans are suffering fallout from the pandemic.
There was however positive news in Australia, where Sydney eased lockdown restrictions for Christmas after the country’s largest city reported a second day of new cases in the single digits.
The new coronavirus variant has swept the UK and spurred global panic just as vaccines are being rolled out.
Also Read | How hunger came back to haunt India
But the European Commission on Tuesday urged EU nations to lift travel bans imposed on Britain in recent days.
The new strain of the virus, which has also been detected in small numbers elsewhere, appears to spread more easily than other types but experts say there is no evidence it is more lethal or resistant to vaccines.
The discovery unleashed panic that led to more than two dozen countries suspending UK flights, threatening travel chaos during the holiday season.
The European Union instead urged virus tests be carried out on passengers within 72 hours before travel.
“Flight and train bans should be discontinued given the need to ensure essential travel and avoid supply chain disruptions,” the EU said.
France was reopening cross-border travel with Britain Wednesday but a negative Covid-19 test will be required.
The ban on arrivals in France has led to long tailbacks of freight lorries in southern England and has disrupted passenger travel in the run-up to Christmas.
The Netherlands also said it was lifting its ban beginning Wednesday but noted that all passengers, including EU citizens, must have a recent negative test to enter.
The World Health Organization in Europe said its experts would meet on Wednesday to discuss how to handle the outbreak, saying “limiting travel to contain spread is prudent until we have better info”.
WHO’s Europe director Hans Kluge wrote on Twitter that the organisation would “discuss strategies for testing, reducing transmission & communicating risks”.
The death toll from the virus surpassed 1.7 million on Tuesday, roughly a year after it emerged in China.
Germany on Tuesday extended its ban on arrivals from the UK — as well as South Africa, where a similar variant has been found — until January 6.
Health Minister Jens Spahn said that “as long as it is possible”, Germany aims to prevent “potentially dangerous virus mutations from spreading in continental Europe”.
The European Union is preparing its rollout of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Sunday, following similar vaccination campaigns in the UK and the US.
Mexico said it would start its Covid vaccinations on Thursday.
The co-founder of BioNTech said on Tuesday it was “highly likely” that its vaccine would work against the mutated strain detected in Britain.
And if not, the vaccine could be adapted in six weeks, said Ugur Sahin, adding that tests are already being run on the variant.
In the US, the world’s worst-affected country, top infectious disease specialist Anthony Fauci received his Covid-19 vaccine as officials continued to seek to build confidence among the public.
But Trump’s rejection of the $900 billion Covid relief package passed overwhelmingly by Congress led to concern, though lawmakers can override his veto if he goes through with it.
Britain has become increasingly isolated, and one of the biggest concerns was France’s ban on freight traffic as part of a 48-hour blockade on the movement of people across the English Channel.
Late Tuesday, UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced Britain and France had settled on a protocol that “will see the French border reopen to those travelling for urgent reasons, provided they have a certified negative COVID test.”
French Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebarri also confirmed that air travel, boats and Eurostar trains would “resume service as of tomorrow morning”.
Despite the breakthrough in talks, congestion around the key southern port of Dover remains unlikely to recede in the short term.
The major British transit hub said it would reopen from midnight local time (2300 GMT) for travellers with a negative result.
While Prime Minister Boris Johnson insisted that supply chains were “strong and robust”, experts warned that Britain may face shortages of certain fresh foods over Christmas if crossings to France were not reopened Wednesday.
Meanwhile, two cardinals close to Pope Francis have contracted Covid-19, according to sources in the Vatican, where efforts were underway to trace their recent contacts.
The 84-year-old pope, known for his love of getting close to the faithful, has been reluctant to wear a mask despite the pandemic that has hit Italy hard.
E-waste in the EU: facts and figures (infographic) | News | European Parliament
, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20201208STO93325/
PM at AMU event: In India’s progress, none can be left behind because of religion
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</span><span class="custom-caption"> <span class="ie-custom-caption">Prime Minister Narendra Modi at AMU's centenary celebrations (Twitter/BJP)</span></span>Underlining that “a lot of time was wasted last century in the name of differences”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told a gathering of Aligarh Muslim University Tuesday that “the country is progressing on a path where none can be left behind because of religion, where all get equal opportunity to move ahead, and fulfil their dreams”.
Describing the AMU campus, its history of education as a “priceless heritage” of the country and praising its alumni across the world as “representatives of India’s culture”, the Prime Minister, addressing the centenary celebrations of the university via a video link, said: “There are ideological differences in a society, it is natural. But when it comes to attainment of national goals, then these differences should be kept aside.”
“When you young friends decide to move ahead with this thinking, then there’s no goal that we cannot achieve together. Be it education, economic progress, better living, opportunities, women’s rights, security, nationalism, these are every citizen’s requirements. These are some issues on which we cannot disagree because of our political, ideological compulsions,” he said.
“We must understand that politics is an integral part of society, but there are issues other than politics in society. A country’s society is much larger, far more pervasive than the thinking of politics and power. Even beyond politics, there is enough space to take the society forward. It is very important to keep exploring this space. A campus like AMU can do this work, all of you can.”
He said the development of a country or society should not be viewed through the prism of politics. “When we come together for a larger objective, it is possible that some elements get troubled. Such elements can be found in every society of the world. These are people with vested interests. To suit their own interest, they will employ every ploy, and spread negativity. But if building India is uppermost in our hearts and mind,then the space for such people will shrink on its own,” he said, adding that “politics can wait, not society, not the development of the country, not the poor”.
“A hundred years ago, in 1920, the youth of the country got a chance to dedicate themselves to the country, struggle and make sacrifices. That generation’s sacrifices gave India independence in 1947. Today’s generation has many opportunities to reach the goal Atmanirbhar Bharat, New India. That was 1920, this is 2020. The next 27 years are very important for you. In 2047, when India completes 100 years of independence, you will witness the historic moment, and you will also be part of the making of modern India. You must think of the country’s welfare,” Modi said.
“Today, the entire world is looking at India… There is curiosity about this being India’s century. We must have a single goal to make the country Atmanirbhar. It should not matter which family one was born in, in which religion one was raised…,” he said.
“AMU has given several freedom fighters and I would like to say that they came from different backgrounds, but worked together for the independence of the country. What was done for the freedom of this country, you have to do the same for the country. We have to work for a common ground. New India must be self-reliant, and the benefits will reach everyone equally. The youth can do it.”
In December 2019, AMU was one of the centres of protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, and clashes on the campus had left over 70 people injured. Police arrested 26 people, including AMU students. Following the incident, university authorities announced an extended winter break.
In his address, the Prime Minister also spoke on the dropout ratio among Muslim girls which he said had declined from 70 per cent to 30 per cent. “I met an AMU alumnus recently who is also an Islamic scholar. He told me something very interesting which I would like to share with you. Under the Swachh Bharat mission, when more than 10 crore toilets were built, everyone benefited. Toilets were built without discrimination. But there is one aspect of Swachh Bharat which has not been discussed much. There was a time when the dropout rate of Muslim daughters was more than 70 per cent. It was a big hurdle in the development of the Muslim community.”
“For 70 years, the situation was that 70 per cent of Muslim daughters could not complete their education. Under these circumstances, Swachh Bharat mission started. Toilets for girl students was built on mission mode by the government. Now, the dropout ratio of Muslim women is just 30 per cent — from 70 per cent. Lakhs of Muslim daughters had to quit studies earlier due to lack of toilets. The government is doing everything to ensure that fewer Muslim women drop out. At AMU, there is a bridge course for dropout students. I have been told that at AMU, the percentage of women students has increased to 35 per cent,” he said.
“The government has special focus on the education and empowerment of Muslim daughters. In the last six years, the government has granted scholarships to one crore Muslim daughters,” he said.
While speaking on the importance of educating women, Modi said, “Even today, AMU can say with pride that the founder chancellor was Begum Sultan one hundred years ago. Given the circumstances 100 years ago, it was a big thing. The attempt to build a modern Muslim society had begun. With the end of the triple talaq malpractice, it has been moved forward. It used to be said earlier that if a woman is educated, then the whole family is educated. This is correct, but this has meaning beyond the education of family. Women should be educated, so they can use their rights correctly. So, she can decide her future. Education brings employment and entrepreneurship, which brings economic independence, which gives way to an empowered woman, who is equal to all others, whether it is about giving direction to the family or the country,” he said.
The Prime Minister also released a postage stamp dedicated to AMU on the occasion. AMU Chancellor Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, Vice- Chancellor Tariq Mansoor and Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank also took part in the virtual event.
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EU’s Barnier says giving Brexit trade talks ‘final push’
BRUSSELS, Dec 22 ― EU negotiator Michel Barnier vowed Tuesday to continue to push for a post-Brexit trade deal through the last ten days before Britain leaves the single market.
“We are really in the crucial moment, and we are giving it the final push,” Barnier told reporters as he headed into a meeting with EU ambassadors in Brussels
“In 10 days the UK will leave the single market and I will continue to work, in total transparency with the European Parliament and the member states,” he said. ― AFP
New Covid-19 strain: EU starts to ease UK travel…
France announces reopening cross-border travel with Britain, but a negative Covid-19 test will be required.
Europe on Wednesday began lifting travel bans on Britain put in place to contain a new fast-spreading Covid strain while WHO experts were set to meet on a response to it.
There was positive news in Australia, where Sydney eased lockdown restrictions for Christmas after the country’s largest city reported a second day of new cases in the single digits.
The new coronavirus variant has swept the UK and spurred global panic just as vaccines are being rolled out. But the European Commission on Tuesday urged EU nations to lift travel bans imposed on Britain in recent days.
The new strain of the virus, which has also been detected in small numbers elsewhere, appears to spread more easily than other types but experts say there is no evidence it is more lethal or resistant to vaccines.
The discovery unleashed panic that led to more than two dozen countries suspending UK flights, threatening travel chaos during the holiday season. The European Union instead urged virus tests be carried out on passengers within 72 hours before travel.
“Flight and train bans should be discontinued given the need to ensure essential travel and avoid supply chain disruptions,” the EU said.
France was reopening cross-border travel with Britain on Wednesday but a negative Covid-19 test will be required.
The ban on arrivals in France has led to long tailbacks of freight lorries in southern England and has disrupted passenger travel in the run-up to Christmas.
The Netherlands also said it was lifting its ban beginning Wednesday but noted that all passengers, including EU citizens, must have a recent negative test to enter.
The World Health Organization in Europe said its experts would meet today to discuss how to handle the outbreak, saying “limiting travel to contain spread is prudent until we have better info”.
WHO’s Europe director Hans Kluge wrote on Twitter that the organisation would “discuss strategies for testing, reducing transmission & communicating risks”.
The death toll from the virus surpassed 1.7 million on Tuesday, roughly a year after it emerged in China.
Germany on Tuesday extended its ban on arrivals from the UK — as well as South Africa, where a similar variant has been found — until January 6.
Health Minister Jens Spahn said that “as long as it is possible”, Germany aims to prevent “potentially dangerous virus mutations from spreading in continental Europe”.
The European Union is preparing its rollout of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Sunday, following similar vaccination campaigns in the UK and the US.
Mexico said it would start its Covid vaccinations on Thursday.
The co-founder of BioNTech said on Tuesday it was “highly likely” that its vaccine would work against the mutated strain detected in Britain.
And if not, the vaccine could be adapted in six weeks, said Ugur Sahin, adding that tests are already being run on the variant.
Britain has become increasingly isolated, and one of the biggest concerns was France’s ban on freight traffic as part of a 48-hour blockade on the movement of people across the English Channel.
Late Tuesday, UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced Britain and France had settled on a protocol that “will see the French border reopen to those travelling for urgent reasons, provided they have a certified negative Covid test.”
French Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebarri also confirmed that air travel, boats and Eurostar trains would “resume service as of tomorrow morning”.
Despite the breakthrough in talks, congestion around the key southern port of Dover remains unlikely to recede in the short term.
While Prime Minister Boris Johnson insisted that supply chains were “strong and robust”, experts warned that Britain may face shortages of certain fresh foods over Christmas if crossings to France were not reopened Wednesday.
Meanwhile, two cardinals close to Pope Francis have contracted Covid-19, according to sources in the Vatican, where efforts were underway to trace their recent contacts.
India moving on a path where nobody stays behind because of one’s religion: PM Modi at AMU
Lucknow: India is moving on a path where nobody stays behind because of his religion and the schemes made today for the poor are reaching them without any religious discrimination, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the Aligarh Muslim University, seeking to impress the government’s “anti-discriminatory” nature on the students of the university. Speaking at the centenary celebrations of the varsity on Tuesday, Modi exhorted students to rise above ideological and political differences of opinion to align their aspirations with the aspirations of the nation, and contribute towards building of a ‘New India’ and an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’. He lauded the university for its contribution to the freedom struggle, towards shaping of the modern Muslim society and its diversity, calling it a “Mini-India”.
Last year, the AMU campus had seen clashes between the police and the students who had protested against a police crackdown at Jamia Millia Islamia University during the anti-CAA protests. “Today, India is moving on a path where each citizen is benefitting from its development without discrimination, no citizen has to worry about the rights given to him by the Constitution, as well as about his own future. It is moving on a path where nobody stays behind because of his religion and everybody gets equal opportunities to move ahead in life and fulfil his dreams,” the PM said, adding: “Sabka saath, sabka vikaas, and sabka vishwas – this mantra is the basis of this journey and this mantra is reflected in the country’s intent and policies.”
While toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission were constructed to benefit everyone, it especially has led to a fall in the school dropout rate of Muslim girls from more than 70% to 30%, thus overcoming a huge obstacle in the development of the Muslim world, he said, citing this as a little known aspect of the cleanliness drive.
The effort to build a modern Muslim society, which was undertaken 100 years ago when Begum Sultan had become the founding chancellor of the university, has been taken forward by the current government by ending the practice of instant triple talaq, Modi said. While he laid stress on the importance of women’s education, Modi also touched upon how the new education policy propounded the interdisciplinary approach of the university in its higher studies syllabus. “We will have to realise that politics is an important part of society, but there are more issues in society greater than politics,” he said.
Religion in the Time of COVID.
And on the eighth day God created Zoom.
You might be tempted to believe that, talking to faith leaders in 2020. From Quakers to Muslims, Unitarians to Jews, the faithful across the world have had to adapt to these challenging times, and many of them are using zoom and other technology to gather for worship and keep their faith communities strong.
“Zoom is working really well for us, better than I would have predicted,” Susan Gore, president of the board of trustees for the Clearwater Unitarian Universalists, says. “I’m not techno-savvy, but I have learned enough to host multiple meetings every week. An unexpected bonus is that our Sunday attendance has been significantly higher than usual in the summer. It’s easier simply to turn on your computer, not having to fight traffic and/or the heat. We also are providing training on how to do Zoom to committee leaders, members and anyone who wants to learn.”
Rabbi Michael Porop says that Temple Beth-el in South Pasadena has always used some technology, live streaming their regular services and high holy day events, but the virus made them “up their game.”
“We used to just have a single, fixed-angle camera streaming in a lower-res, but since the pandemic we have added cameras and gotten a much higher res,” Porop says. “We’re also doing things like pre-recording musical numbers that we can drop into a live broadcast.”
Porop said that the temple now provides a variety of options, like live streaming on their website, on Zoom or through Facebook and YouTube.
“We like to be able to give people the option of using whatever platform works best for them,” he said.
Unfortunately, these technologies do have drawbacks.
Porop says his synagogue experienced two instances of “zoom bombing,” where unwelcome guests tried to disrupt the worship experience.
“It was disturbing, yes, but it forced us to put better protections in place for our Zoom events,” he said. “Now we require passwords or ‘waiting rooms’ before people are allowed to participate. So far those precautions seem to be working.”
What’s it like to worship virtually?
“Meeting by Zoom was strange at first for many of us,” Linda Morganstein, clerk of the Meeting of the St. Petersburg Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), says. “We tend to be an older group of folks, some of whom are tech-challenged. But the younger among us helped a lot and got us set up and now it feels as if we are actually more respectful of each other; perhaps even kinder and more thoughtful while we navigate being together via phone and computer. I think it’s made us kinder; more compassionate.”
Imam Abdul Karim Ali is the chairman of the Tampa Bay Muslim Association. While he said a few mosques have begun meeting in person, most have elected to have traditional Friday evening prayer via Zoom. Muslims pray five times a day, so many are used to following that ritual at home with their families.
“Thank Allah that we live when we do,” Ali said. “If this pandemic had hit 1400 years ago when Islam was just beginning, we would not have had the options that today’s technology affords us.”
Ali likes to use a traditional Muslim story to illustrate how the community perceives and reacts to the pandemic. The story goes that a man entered a village on his camel and stopped at a local establishment for some refreshment. But he neglected to adequately tie up his camel and when he came out the camel was gone. The lesson is that, metaphorically, you should always keep track of your camel – and Ali compares the virus to the camel.
“It’s important for us to know where the camel is and what he is doing so we can react accordingly,” Ali says.
Ali explains that Muslims believe in science and will be looking to the scientists, doctors and other health professionals to give them guidance on when it’s appropriate for the community to begin meeting in person. He notes there is nothing in the Muslim faith to preclude members from being vaccinated. If proven safe and effective, he says he and his family will be in line to take it.
Following the direction of science is also a top priority in Porop’s community. He notes that the temple put together a task force of people in health care, education, business and science to guide them on when it will be safe to start in-person worship again.
The Quakers are also taking a communal approach to the challenge of in-person gathering.
“There is a Quaker committee formed of people from all over the state addressing that issue,” said Morganstein. “We will have the knowledge and thought from those folks to guide us. In addition, our Meeting will talk about what may need to happen with our particular Meeting and Meetinghouse in order for us to feel OK about worshipping in person again. We want to honor the vulnerabilities of our community and not push for any particular date. God is within us and around us; so everywhere is sacred, we don’t necessarily need a building for that.”
Gore says that while UUs take all precautions when it comes to the virus, there is some impatience in the community.
“UUs tend to be very ‘heady’ people,” Gore says. “We mask up, wash our hands and stay home – mostly. Mostly, I say, because we also pride ourselves in our diversity. Some UU Clearwater members feel it is time to ‘get back together.’ As much as I would like to see my friends face to face, I believe it is way too early to predict when we will be meeting in person again. Next spring, perhaps…if there isn’t a resurgence coupled with the flu.”
Morganstein believes that the challenges of 2020 may actually serve to strengthen community bonds.
“I am hoping that other organizations are having the same type of ‘cracking-open’ experiences we’ve talked about in our Meeting – seeing each other and ourselves in new ways, and realizing how deep and alive our bonds are,” she says. “Occasionally, a catastrophe brings solace and gifts with it that we couldn’t have foreseen. I think this was one of those times.”
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Citizenship test drops questions on freedom of press, religion
The new citizenship test, which immigrants began to use this month, no longer includes a question dealing specifically with the right to religious freedom, one of the Constitution’s defining liberties.
It’s a startling move for the <a href="/topics/trump-administration/">Trump administration</a>, which has overall been a vigorous advocate of religious freedom across the government, said <a href="/topics/alfonso-aguilar/">Alfonso Aguilar</a>, who ran the Office of Citizenship in the Bush administration and oversaw the last rewrite of the test in 2008.
He made sure the religious freedom question was added to the test at that point because he thought would-be citizens should know about something so central to the American experiment.
“I’m surprised this is happening under this administration. I’m sure the president is not aware,” Mr. <a href="/topics/alfonso-aguilar/">Aguilar</a> said.
The citizenship test works under what Mr. <a href="/topics/alfonso-aguilar/">Aguilar</a> called the “catechism” approach: Those seeking citizenship are told to study a set of questions. When it’s time for the test, they are asked a small subset of those questions and must get 60% correct.
The previous version had 100 possible questions, and test-takers were asked 10. The new version has 128 questions. Test-takers are asked 20 and must get 12 correct to pass.
Even with the expanded test materials, religion has been cut. It appeared seven times in the questions and answers of the old test but just three times in the new version. Gone entirely is the stand-alone question: “What is freedom of religion?” The correct answer: “You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.”
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Homeland Security Department agency that oversees legal immigration, said religious freedom is still “well represented” on the test and appears as an answer in three questions.
“The test continues to emphasize the fundamental concepts of U.S. government and American history that is found on the current naturalization civics test that has been administered in USCIS field offices since 2009,” said Dan Hetlage, a spokesman for the agency.
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It’s not just religion that has been axed.
A question about the First Amendment is also gone. The new test no longer makes any reference to freedom of the press, one of five fundamental liberties, along with religion, that are guaranteed by the First Amendment, said Charles Haynes, founding director of the Religious Freedom Center at the Freedom Forum.
He said it’s perhaps not a surprise that the <a href="/topics/trump-administration/">Trump administration</a> would make those changes.
“The 2008 answer to ‘what is religious freedom?’ may not appeal to an administration that gives voice to those who view the U.S. as a Christian nation (see White House religious advisors),” he said in an email. “Moreover, the <a href="/topics/trump-administration/">Trump administration</a> focuses on claims by conservative Christians that their religious liberty is under assault in the U.S.”
Mr. <a href="/topics/alfonso-aguilar/">Aguilar</a>, though, said the changes were more likely made by career officials and escaped notice by political leadership.
Homeland Security began the process of updating the test in 2018.
Mr. Hetlage said the new test questions were “informed by an internal USCIS team, which included USCIS employees from a cross section of agency divisions.”
He said the point of the update was to have a test that “more accurately assesses applicants’ knowledge of U.S. history, government and values.”
“The revision has met USCIS requirements for efficiency and proper rigor, while ensuring the civics test is valid, reliable and fair, and that it complies with statutory and regulatory naturalization requirements,” he said.
USCIS is using the new test for people who applied for citizenship beginning Dec. 1. Those who applied before that are still using the old test.
Immigrant rights activists say there was no reason to change the test in the first place because there was no evidence that the old test was too easy.
They argue that 100 questions were enough to study and said asking 20 questions instead of 10 — even if it still requires getting 60% correct — is a needless barrier to earning citizenship.
“These changes are completely unnecessary, capricious and nonsensical,” said Arturo Vargas, CEO of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.
He said the <a href="/topics/trump-administration/">Trump administration</a> didn’t give community groups a chance to offer feedback on the revisions, and particularly how they would affect immigrants still struggling to learn English. He said the Dec. 1 effective date, just a couple of weeks after the test was finalized, gave groups too little time to prepare to help immigrants study.
But Mr. <a href="/topics/alfonso-aguilar/">Aguilar</a>, who designed the version that is being replaced, said with the exception of the religious freedom omission, the new test looks like a solid effort.
He said the test is a key part of the assimilation process because immigrants learn about their new home country as they study.
Indeed, a 2018 study by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation found only 36% of participants could get the 60% grade needed to pass. For immigrants, the passing rate — at least on the old test — is above 90%.
Mr. <a href="/topics/alfonso-aguilar/">Aguilar</a> said when he released the 2008 test, he faced many of the same complaints from activist groups predicting fewer people passing.
“To argue that this is some sort of obstacle is really a stretch,” he said. “What it does, it makes it more meaningful by having more questions — and not that many, it’s 28, and then asking 20. It encourages a more rigorous study, which I think it great.”
“If you can’t take this test, you can’t operate in society,” he said.
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