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The administration sometimes has to evaluate the "degree of assimilation" of candidates during the process of obtaining French citizenship. This paper analyzes a special case: female Muslim candidates wearing a hijab (Muslim headscarf). Through a socio-historical and ethnographic analysis, this paper highlights the implicit or explicit State definition of the "well-assimilated" applicant as well as of the un-"assimilatable" applicant. The analysis of the treatment of the " hijab issue" by the administration in charge of naturalization allows us to fully understand why the administrative discourse on assimilation focuses on the "Islamic veil." Wearing the hijab not only raises the issue of perpetuation of the national ethos, but also that of loyalty. Beyond the supposed "clash of civilizations," the main challenge is to maintain a certain conception of national homogeneity and recognition of state authority.