More than 30 years ago when I immigrated to the US, applied for citizenship and took the 100-question civics test, the one part of the naturalization process that left the deepest impression on me was one question on the N-400 form, which asked: “Have you ever been a member of, involved in or in any way associated with any communist or totalitarian party anywhere in the world?” Answering “yes” could lead to the rejection of your application. Some people might try their luck and lie, but if exposed, the consequences could be much worse — a person could be fined, imprisoned, or be deported and banned from re-entering the US. 

 The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, passed amid Cold War-ear fears of communist infiltration, authorized the exclusion of any aliens on the basis of membership in or affiliation with a communist or totalitarian regime. 

 In October 2020, US Citizenship and Immigration Services issued guidance stating that association with or membership in a communist party “is inconsistent and incompatible with the Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America.” Although the guidance did not name any specific country, it was clear that it was directed at the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Several observers said that the resurgence of such Cold War-era ideological scrutiny, beginning under US President Donald Trump’s first term, was aimed at immigrants with ties to the CCP.