Proud Vietnamese refugee, embracing the tongue of their adopted land, as all immigrants ought to do
In a politically and socially divided society, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 14224 on March 1, 2025, designating English as the Official Language of the United States. This decision, while controversial, holds immense importance for immigrants seeking to integrate into American society.
The designation of an official language is critical in re-establishing bonds as Americans, especially in a time when unity and a collective national identity are paramount. For many immigrants, mastering the English language is not just helpful, but liberating.
Take the case of Tony Pham, a senior fellow for Homeland Security and Immigration policy, who, as a South Vietnamese refugee, fled Vietnam with his family in April 1975, at the end of the war in Vietnam. Pham and his family, like many others, encountered a language barrier upon resettling in the United States. English proficiency was essential for them to assimilate into American culture and earn their citizenship.
The author's family faced similar challenges navigating new lives in America due to unfamiliar systems, schools, and an employment market requiring English proficiency. Learning English opened doors to forming bonds with neighbors and developed a sense of national pride in being American.
The designation of English as the official language is not exclusionary but empowering for new immigrants seeking freedom and opportunity in the U.S. In 2017, Vietnamese-Americans comprised approximately 3% of America's immigrants and represented the sixth-largest foreign-born population.
Under EO 14224, English proficiency becomes more crucial for immigrants, as it is tied to their access to government services and integration into American society. The order rescinded Executive Order 13166 (2000), which had required federal agencies and recipients of federal funding to improve access to programs for persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) by offering resources and guidance to ensure language access.
This policy shift has raised concerns among tribal nations and immigrant advocacy groups about increased exclusion and challenges to language diversity and sovereignty. Practically, it potentially reduces immigrants’ ability to navigate government services if they lack English skills. Symbolically, it affirms English as the unifying federal language.
President Trump's stance on English proficiency among recent immigrant groups is not new. During his first term, he served as the acting director for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and later as the assistant secretary for Border Security and Immigration Policy under his second term. Trump's actions aim to promote assimilation through English-language proficiency while minimizing government resources spent on multilingual services.
Recent research indicates that 46% of illegal aliens in the United States speak English "not well" or "not at all." Further steps should be taken at the state and local level, especially within workplaces and educational institutions, to ensure the spirit of this executive order is realized.
In conclusion, English proficiency becomes more crucial for immigrants under EO 14224, as it is tied to their access to government services and integration into American society under a federal policy that no longer requires accommodating non-English speakers. I applaud President Trump for taking steps to help build unity, a collective national identity, and opening the door for everyone to identify as Americans.
The designation of English as the official language reinforces the importance of English proficiency for immigrants seeking to integrate into American society and build a collective national identity. President Trump's stance on English language proficiency among recent immigrant groups is not new, with his actions aimed at promoting assimilation and minimizing resources spent on multilingual services.
