Whats Wrong With “English Only” Laws?
“English Only” laws, which declare English to be the country’s official language and bar government employees from providing non-English language assistance and services, are inconsistent with both the First Amendment right to communicate with or petition the government, and the right to equality. They are also unnecessary and sometimes even dangerous to both individuals and the public. Currently enforced in eighteen states, some “English Only” laws are written so broadly that they forbid non-English government services such as assistance to recipients of benefits, applications for drivers’ licenses, and bilingual education. Current “English Only” laws are based on the false premise that today’s immigrants who come from Asian and Spanish-speaking countries will not learn English without government coercion. In fact, the vast majority of Asian and Latino immigrants are acquiring proficiency in English just as quickly, if not faster, than earlier generations of Italian, Russian and Germa
