Should Hispanic immigrants learn English as a requirement to obtain their green cards?

Question

I am not talking about to be asked to speak English since the fist day they enter the country. I mean, that during the process of obtaining the green card (about a year) they should learn at least the basics of English and then take a test by the day they obtain their status as legal residents.

I do understand immigrants come from different countries. I focused my question in Hispanics because i believe their communities are larger than others in the United States and it is possible for them to survive without speaking a word of English. Immigrants from other countries find themselves almost forced to communicate in English due to the small size of their communities. At least this is my perception!!!

To Ancho A:
Have you consider that a green card holder of legal resident alien can remain with that status and not necessarily become a citizen?

Answer 1

English makes this country go around.
Personally, I think ALL immigrants should learn English. I don't care if they speak French, German, Russian, or Mandarin.

Answer 2

I received my US citizenship today- One thing that really kind of bothered me was a woman was called into to get her ....whatever- green card I assume. Anyhow, the interviewer asked the womans immigration lawyer if she had brought a translator....wtf? Everything I've read about being an immigrant said you had to be able to speak, read and write english. I would have never moved to a country where I didn't speak the language, so my answer is yes, people should have to learn english.

Answer 3

Any immigrant planning to live and work in America for an extended period would be well-served to pick up some English. So the policy would be reasonable in a 'for thier own good' kinda way. Though, I see no reason to limit it to hispanic immigrants, only.

Answer 4

the official language in United States of America is English so in my opinion English MUST be the only language spoken in ,institutions like banks stores etc. and anybody that comes here MUST learn to speak and write English ,i consider the refusal of majority of Spanish origin people (MEXICANS) to speak English a lack of respect against this country !
i`m from Europe and i don`t understand why in the hell r so many people that don`t know English and they r here for a long time .
How in heaven u live in US since 1995 and u don`t speak English u must be retarded o u don`t give s..hit about this country

Answer 5

Note: about half of immigration into the United States is illegal, thus approximately half of the impact of immigration on our public school system is due to illegal immigration.


School enrollment increased by 14 percent between 1990 and 2000 and is now at an all-time high. At 53.1 million students, current enrollment exceeds the baby boomer record set in 1970. Yet without school-age immigrants and illegal aliens and the children of immigrants and illegal aliens, school enrollment would not have have risen at all during the 1990's.

Currently, one in every five students has an immigrant or illegal alien parent. One-quarter of these children were foreign-born. Legal and illegal immigration will account for 96 percent of the increase in the school-age population over the next 50 years. If mass immigration continues, the education of all children in America will continue to be undermined. Education costs will continue to escalate while quality of education will continue to decline.

About 14 percent of schools exceed their capacity by six to 25 percent, and eight percent exceed it by more than 25 percent. To alleviate overcrowding, more than one-third of schools use portable classrooms, and one-fifth hold classes in temporary instructional space, such as cafeterias and gyms.

Enrollment in grades 9-12 is projected to reach an all-time high of 15.8 million in 2005. Total enrollment will reach 55 million by 2020 and 60 million by 2030, according to the U.S. Department of Education. By 2100, the nation's schools will have to find room for 94 million students - practically double the number of school-age children the nation has now.

In California, where illegal immigration is concentrated, the California State Department of Education estimates that 16 new classrooms will need to be built every day, seven days a week, for the next five years - essentially one new school every day. The number of teachers will need to be doubled within ten years, requiring 300,000 new educators.

FAIR research shows that "the Urban Institute estimates that the cost of educating illegal alien children in the nation's seven states with the highest concentration of illegal aliens was $3.1 billion in 1993 (which, with the growth of their population to 1.3 million, would be more like $5 billion in 2000). This estimate does not take into account the additional costs of bilingual education or other special educational needs."

For more information, see:

No room to learn, by the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

Answer 6

Well, since they're immigrants, they're assimliating with the dominant culture, and that includes learning English. It is not exactly necessary to know English to have a well paying job nowadays, although for a higher job and interaction, and most things you need to do in the U.S., the English language is required. But answer me this, should Americans be required to learn some Spanish to adapt with their culture since the immigrating percentage continues to grow?

Answer 7

I am partial to a written test in English prior to a visa for residency being issued. The test should be on the order of the SAT and visas issued on a competitive basis. The higher your score, the better your chances. Those who really want it and work hard will get their reward and we would end up with the best. Life works that way, why not visas?

Answer 8

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Answer 9

All non-English speaking people should be required to learn English to obtain a green card!

Answer 10

Yes they should. How else do they advance ? Older immigrants took pride into coming to America and wanted to take part of it not demand the whole country accommodate them because they feel special