How does designating English as the "official" language of the USA deter illegal immigration?

Question

To me, it's a farce!

Designating English as the official language of the USA does nothing to curb illegal immigration and those who argue for it on this basis are either uneducated about the subject or uninformed.

Don't get me wrong, I do think that English should be designated as the official language of the US; I just don't think that it is not that much of a deterent when it comes to illegal immigration.

Answer 1

it does nothing . they are still going to come and still not going to learn it. however, if we go to mexico no one is going to cater to us in english.

Answer 2

It doesn't, at least not significantly. It just encourages assimilation by all immigrants, legal or otherwise.

You could argue that some illegals - probably those who are more likely to return home, anyway 'migrants,' they used to be called - would be less likely to seek work in the US if they couldn't expect support for thier native language when they go there. But most are determined enough to learn english if they really need to.

The only downside to making English a legally-binding official language is that it opens the door to scams in which unscrupulous persons present immigrants (legal or illegal) and other foreigners with translations of contracts into thier own langauge which differ substantially from the legally-binding (due to 'offical language' law) english versions.

Answer 3

People actually argued for it based on that reason? That's quite illogical.

It should be the official language to help unite us, to stop the balkanization of the country, to prevent us becoming like Canada and Quebec.

It's not about illegal aliens! It's about making legal immigrants into Americans!

Answer 4

It doesn't.

English became the official language of California in the 1980's. Do you see any mitigation of illegal immigration as a result? Or even much impact on language used?

Answer 5

How many illegals are going to come over here if they can't communicate with people to buy, sell, or find a job? They are here because we make it easy for them.

Knowing that has nothing to do with an education. It has to do with common sense. People go where they are comfortable, and generally flock to where the opportunity is better. If they are lucky enough to find both, well, they then have the best of BOTH worlds.

Answer 6

It does nothing to curb illegal immigration.

Further, while I fully support English as our spoken language, I do not support a government-issued mandate.

To me, creating such a law is insulting to the native Americans and their many languages which were here LONG before Europeans came to this country.

Answer 7

It doesn't do anything to curb illegal immigration.

What it does do, however, is force integration by having at least ONE thing in common with the rest of the population: Language.

Answer 8

At least if english is the offical language you could go to get a burger and the person could communicate with you.

Answer 9

Unlawful Entry is a CRIME. Zero tolerance for immigration-law violators! No amnesty, no "stealth-amnesty." No "change of status," marriage fraud, "exceptional leave to remain," no "Temporary Protected Status." If you break the law, depart or be deported. Illegal aliens kill more US citizens each year than the war in Iraq has killed in four years. Apologists for illegal immigration like to paint it as a victimless crime. But in fact, illegal immigration causes substantial harm to American citizens and legal immigrants, particularly those in the most vulnerable sectors of our population--the poor, minorities, and children. Additionally, job competition by waves of illegal immigrants willing to work at substandard wages and working conditions depresses the wages of American workers, hitting hardest at minority workers and those without high school degrees. Illegal immigration also contributes to the dramatic population growth overwhelming communities across America--crowding school classrooms, consuming already limited affordable housing, and straining precious natural resources like water, energy, and forestland. Taxpayers are being forced to pay for the free health care, education, and other welfare programs being given to illegal aliens; Those tax dollars could be given back to U.S. taxpayers or used to keep our borders secure; They may be here illegally, but they sure know how to "work the system" to collect "free" medical care, "free" education, "free" food, Section 8 housing vouchers and other housing assistance, and hundreds of other social services. It costs citizens additional hundreds of billions of tax dollars at every level: local, state, and federal. It gobbles up billions of our charitable contributions. And much of that money ends up siphoned out of our economy and into offshore accounts. Illegal aliens, over half of whom work "under the table" with neither job nor income reported (nor taxed), are not counted as employed or unemployed. But some of those day-labor and off-the-books "job-lets" would be "real" jobs - available to American citizen job-seekers - if employment regulations were enforced. Illegal aliens can get away with tax evasion, et al., which citizens cannot. In short, we have too many workforce entrants and too few jobs created. The ratio works out to roughly 7-10 workforce entrants per job created. If all illegal aliens depart or are deported, all legal immigration halted, and all temporary employment visas abolished, we still have a problem with more US-born workforce entrants than new jobs created. Illegal immigration damages our country and our citizens every day at every level. And not even the attacks of 2/26 and 9/11 have awakened many Americans to the vast dangers illegal immigration poses to our selves, our families, our communities, our society, our values, our principles, our civilization. Zero Tolerance for Immigration-Law Violators! We must remember the lessons of 2/26, 9/11, and the costs we bear every single day. God Bless the U S A !

Answer 10

english is our language verse german (ben franklin). do like they are doing in texas, fining the landlords that rent to illegals. i hate pressing 1 for english and trying to find my english instructions on items i buy. might not deter but make the local gov't money.

Answer 11

one thing has nothing to do with the other. English should be the official language, regardless of weather or not it stems illegals