Immediate Release Contact: Phil Kent

May Phone: (404) 226-3549

Senate immigration bill gets an “F” on English and assimilation

ARLINGTON, Va.—“The proposed Senate immigration bill deserves an ‘F’ when it comes to defending English as the common, unifying language of our nation,” said K.C. McAlpin, executive director of ProEnglish, a group that advocates for making English the official language.

“The most glaring omission is that the Kennedy-Kyl bill fails to make English the official language of the United States,” said McAlpin. “So the Social Security Administration will continue providing interpreters in 150 foreign languages, and federal agencies will have to continue providing translations and interpreters in dozens of foreign languages. This is not the melting pot. This is a recipe for the balkanization of our nation,” he added.

“The Kennedy-Kyl bill would give millions of illegal aliens up to eight years to demonstrate a minimal knowledge of English. Then they would have three chances to pass the watered down English test that is part of the U.S. citizenship examination. That test requires applicants to read and write just two sentences in English,” McAlpin continued. “So the claim that those who get amnesty under this bill will have to learn English is nonsense,” he added.

A 2006 Rasmussen Reports survey found that 85 percent of Americans support making English the official language. A Harvard University survey of the nation’s youth released in April showed that 72 percent of young people between the ages of 18 and 24 favor official English, including majorities of both Hispanic and Asian young people.

“The Administration and the Senators who are pushing for passage of this bill should be ashamed for trying to deceive the American people into believing this bill will do anything real to require immigrants to learn English and assimilate,” said McAlpin.