Thread: Every immigrant who comes here should be required within five years to learn English

"Every immigrant who comes here should be required within five years to learn English or leave the country."
-Theodore Roosevelt

I was wondering how this requirement would be applied in today's United States. For instance, how would the government enforce this type of law? Would deportation be the penalty if they didn't pass the test? Would immigrants be required to take a written exam after 5 years? What about those who learned enough English to get by but maybe not enough pass a written test? Or what about those who could speak English but have not learned how to read or write? What if the immigrant is the child of immigrants? Would the child have to learn to speak English in 5 years as well? And what if the immigrants have a child while they are here and one fails to pass whatever test might be required? Would that parent be deported? Would this apply to legal immigrants as well as illegal immigrants? If both are a married couple and one passes and the other doesn't, would we still deport the non-passing spouse? Who would provide the funds to teach these people English? Or would they have to bear this expense on their own? What if they couldn't afford to take English classes? Would the government offer financial assistance so they could learn the language? Would we also require these people to actually speak English in everyday life, or could they decide for themselves if and when they want to continue using their native language?

Just wondering what this would look like....

Congrats on your 101st post, Senior Member

To be more on topic, Roosevelt's "should" was not a "shall". I agree with the should, but I don't think the shall is possible to enforce

This one is really easy:

Deport them if they fail the verbal or written test they need to pass both. Any family members or children they have who pass the test are welcome to stay, or go, their choice. since they are living in an immersion class there is no need for anyone tyo pay for anything, if they want to learn, they will, if they don't learn, out they go.

This would only apply to legal immigrants because illegal immigrants are breaking the law and should be deported for that anyway.

To bad ol' T R couldn't put this into practice.

Even people applying for U.S Citizenship have exemptions like if your over age 50 you don't need to pass an english test and you can take your history test in your native language. Also remember there are many classes of people who reside here besides permanent residents. There are many nonimmigrant classes where theoretically they are here for temporary periods and must return home but many stay for very long periods of time and eventually become permanent anyway. Also there are many who derive and acquire U.S Citizenship and there are no tests of any kind for them.

My father's father Almicare came to the USA from Italy in the late 1920's. He and his wife Josephine got off a ship at Ellis Island. They settled in Bridgeport, CT. He got a job in maintenance at General Electric and worked there until he retired. Almicare and Josephine had two sons and three daughters. The boys, my father and his brother Angelo had to quit school and work so the family could eventually buy the three family house in which they were renting an apartment. My grandfather worked very hard even after his retirement. He always kept a very fruitful garden and made alot of really nice wines. By the time he died in 1972, although he understood a fair amount of it, Almicare spoke no English. I am glad he wasn't deported.

Deporting is to harsh. I do believe that everybody that becomes a US Citizen should be able to read and write english, not memorize it off a card.

Later,
Richard

Legal immigrants are the least of our worries...

Originally Posted by riooso

Deporting is to harsh. I do believe that everybody that becomes a US Citizen should be able to read and write english, not memorize it off a card.

Later,
Richard

I think you mean, "Deporting is too harsh".

Originally Posted by icedog

I think you mean, "Deporting is too harsh".

That's probably why he thinks it's too harsh

I think one should be able, especially when trying to become a citizen of a particular nation, to speak and use the common language of that nation to a functional level within a certain amount of time. Icedog, it is apparent to me that your grandfather to his credit did this. Perhaps he did not speak any at home, and maybe he only knew enough to perform his job, but he was at least functional enough to work for GE. Right? Fluency may or may not come later, but there is no excuse for not putting the effort to become functional in the language. Otherwise where is the evidence one really WANTS to become a citizen, rather than just reap whatever benefits/escape some other nation he or she feels is worse....? Citizenship should be granted only to those who truly desire it, and not those who merely find it convenient or perhaps profitable. Honestly, I believe there are even naturally born citizens who based on their loyalties, should not be-but that is not the law.
Anyone attempting to be naturalized needs to convince the new country of his or her loyalty to, ability to function within, and allegiance to the new country, as it is not always a common thing to give up one's birth nation. It isn't a decision that should be taken lightly, IMHO.

John P.