Green Card English New possibilities and enduring challenges in US immigration reform

• Published in: Adult Language Education and Migration pp. 225 - 243
• Main Author: Wrigley, Heide Spruck
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: United Kingdom Routledge 2015; Taylor & Francis Group
• Edition: 1
• Subjects: Applied linguistics for ELT; jurisdiction; EU Accession State; English Language Learners; ESOL Classroom; English Requirements; federal language policy; Adult ESOL; Dream; United States immigration reform; Adult ESL; Green Card; Green Cards; Undocumented Youth; ESOL Learner; English Only ideology; ESL Class; Immigration Reform; ESOL Specialist; IRCA; Post-secondary Education; Huddled Masses Yearning; Dream Act; UK Test; ESL Field; ESOL; ESL Service; Undocumented Adults; High School Equivalency Diploma; Language Policy
• ISBN: 9780415733595; 0415733596; 9780415733601; 041573360X
• DOI: 10.4324/9781315718361-18

This chapter describes US language policy that establishes the literacy and English requirements for migrating to the US, acquiring a Green Card and attaining US citizenship. It explains the tension between a federal government that has never declared English as the nation's official language and individual states eager to promote an English Only ideology in their jurisdiction. Language policies mandating English proficiency as a prerequisite for entry, for citizenship or for a change of legal status have rarely had the desired effect of turning the country into a nation of English speakers. Equally cynical seem proposed laws to have immigrants earn a Green Card by going to school to learn English in a system that cannot possibly accommodate them. Human concerns for all who are here should trump the political desire to extract penalties, and pursuit of happiness should not be dependent on one's ability to speak English. This chapter describes US language policy that establishes the literacy and English requirements for migrating to the US, acquiring a Green Card and attaining US citizenship. It explains the tension between a federal government that has never declared English as the nation's official language and individual states eager to promote an English Only ideology in their jurisdiction. Language policies mandating English proficiency as a prerequisite for entry, for citizenship or for a change of legal status have rarely had the desired effect of turning the country into a nation of English speakers. Equally cynical seem proposed laws to have immigrants earn a Green Card by going to school to learn English in a system that cannot possibly accommodate them. Human concerns for all who are here should trump the political desire to extract penalties, and pursuit of happiness should not be dependent on one's ability to speak English.