Should there be a law that all Legal Immigrants MUST learn English and pass a test to stay here?

Question

Should there be a law that all Legal Immigrants MUST learn English and pass a test to stay here?

Answer 1

that will mean anyone below the mason-dixon line needs to go too...

Answer 2

I know plenty of legal immigrants and naturalized citizens who do not speak English. They speak enough to pass a test. The citizenship questions are online so they can rehearse them. Testing them once is not enough.

In NY (probably in other states, too), the voter registration is in Spanish, Chinese, and Korean. Why are we letting people vote if they can't speak/read/write English??? Does that make sense to anyone? These non-English speaking citizens are more than likely getting information about the candidates and propositions from slanted newspapers and news shows in their native language.

Our govt has to stop accommodating to the immigrants needs, and create a culture where they are forced to learn English. That's the only way non-English speakers will learn. My sister in law went to China for a few years and she HAD to learn Chinese to get around or else she'd be completely lost...she didn't expect the Chinese to learn English.

Currently, our govt is fostering separate cultures to accommodate the immigrants' demands and needs. For example, in NYC, a separate public school is opening this Fall for the Arab community (the curriculum will emphasize Arabic languages, history, and culture). How are these children going to appreciate American culture if they aren't exposed to it? This is insane. It's so politically incorrect to use the word "assimilation" now. Political correctness is ruining our country!

Answer 3

This is a law if they wish to become naturalized citizens. They can stay here as residents or on visas without having to learn English or take any tests.

Answer 4

Well I guess this question all depends.

If they want to become an official CITIZEN of the USA then they already have a test for that.

but if they are immigrants carrying legal Green Cards, then I dont really see the reason for them to actually have an official English test.
If they decided to come here, you would think that they would just naturally learn English on their own.

Answer 5

It is called the citizenship test it is in English only for pretty much all people with the exception of those who are of advanced age usually elderly people who are living with their son's daughters in the states. If you want to gain admission into a US university, for student visa holders, you must take a TOEFL exam which is a test to determine you level of English abilities. People needing to gain employment need to have a very strong english background which is judged by the employer. In general we have all of our bases covered when it comes to legal immigrants to and their requirement to learn English. Illegals is a different story.

Answer 6

Legal Immigrants /do/ tend to learn English, since they generally want to become citizens.

Answer 7

This was a major requirement of Bush's failed immigration bill. It would initiate the requirement of both acculturation and English language classes for everyone receiving a Z visa (essentially all those receiving immigration status except for students).

Answer 8

NO, there are plenty of people already here in the US that have made alot of money and dont know English. You know how hard it is to learn another language at an older age. Try going to Japan and learning Japanese.

Answer 9

I don't know any legal immigrants who don't speak English, my father was from Mexico and was a legal resident and knew English so did all his friends. Most of them do. I've lived in Mexican neighborhoods, gone to school, church etc.. with Mexicans most of them spoke English to varying degrees. The Mexican grocery stores where I live post their sales in English and Spanish, the cashiers, butchers etc.. speak English and Spanish. I think this idea that they don't is just to rile people up, but I know different.

Answer 10

That already is the law.

There is a citizenship test immigrants must pass and pressing 2 for Espanol is not an option.

Answer 11

No. If you don't learn English you are usually cut off in many ways from the rest of society, unless you live in Miami, L.A. or a city with a large number of hispanics. We have other things to worry about, such as the large number of children who go to bed hungry.