VIDEO: Senator Lankford Slams USCIS Naturalization Test For Using Freedom of Worship And Not Freedom of Religion

WASHINGTON, DC – During today’s Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing with DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson, Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) criticized the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) naturalization test for misrepresenting America’s First Amendment rights of freedom of religion. Question #51 on the study materials for the civics history and government section of the test lists “freedom of worship” as a possible response to the question, “What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?”
 
“The USCIS questionnaire civics test has in it one of these things, ‘What are two rights of everyone living in the U.S. states, and it listed out 6 different things: freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom to petition the government, freedom of worship, the right to bear arms,” said Lankford. “I’d love to see ‘freedom of worship’ switched to ‘freedom of religion.” We in the United States have freedom of religion, not freedom of worship.”
 
In January, Senator Lankford was named co-chairman of the Congressional Prayer Caucus by its founder, Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA). Lankford became the first senator to join the Caucus since its founding in 2005, making the Caucus bicameral. The Congressional Prayer Caucus works to protect the fundamental human right of religious freedom and guards the right of individuals to pray and practice their faith freely.

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CLICK HERE to view the specific comments about freedom of religion. CLICK HERE to view the Senator’s entire Q&A with Sec. Johnson.