Readers Favor English As Official Language

[Harold F. Schiffman]

>>From Fed.Smith.com

Readers Favor English As Official Language and Say Immigration is a
Serious Problem
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April 13, 2006
URL:
http://www.fedsmith.com/articles/articles.showarticle.db.php?intArticleID=886
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Immigration is a topic currently on the mind of many Americans and our
representatives. With demonstrations in the streets of many cities because
of the controversy surrounding the subject, and with Congress considering
new legislation on the subject, we asked readers their views on the
subject. Not surprisingly, there was a vigorous response from about 1500
readers. A number of readers sent in lengthy, carefully considered
comments. Many readers see a distinction between legal immigration and
illegal immigration. Many readers are also concerned about the overall
cost to the country of having many immigrants coming to America. The vast
majority of those responding are in favor of making English the official
language of the United States.

Here is a quick summary of the results:

In general, do you think immigrants who come to the United States today
help the country and make it a better place to live or hurt the country
and make it a worse place to live?

50% say immigrants hurt the country
31% say immigrants help the country
13% are undecided
6% selected "other"

Is immigration a problem in the United States?

73% say it is a very serious problem
19% say it is a somewhat serious problem.
6% think immigration is not a problem
1% of survey respondents were undecided
1% selected "other"

Do you support or oppose making it easier for illegal immigrants to become
citizens?

15% support making it easier
77% oppose it
7% are undecided
2% selected "other"

Do you support or oppose making it easier for illegal immigrants to become
legal workers?

32% support making it easier
61% oppose it
6% are undecided
1% selected "other"

Do you think illegal immigrants provide benefits to the nation by doing
work many U.S. citizens dont want to do, or do they cost the country more
because they use public services?

14% say immigrants provide more benefits
78% selected "provide more costs"
6% are undecided
2% selected "other"

Should English be the official language of the United States?

93% say "yes"
4% say "no"
2% are undecided
1% selected "other"

Here is a sampling of typical comments from readers that explain their
thinking on the topic.

A manager from the Treasury Department in Ogden, Utah wrote: "Middle class
citizens cannot afford to keep paying for illegal immigrant's health care
and housing costs. If they are in this country they should be here legally
or not at all. I don't understand what about the word 'illegal'
politicians don't understand."

A program assistant from the Department of Education in Washington, DC has
strong feelings about the overall topic: "The United States is getting
worse instead of better where immigration is concerned. Immigrants should
not have the right to come here and change our language, religion or laws.
Once they are here, then they end up finding ways to bring many more of
their family members here and before you know it, they have bought
properties everywhere and will soon take over and own the United States.
Stop Allowing Them to Come Here Now!!!"

A senior special agent with DHS has considerable experience in the field
and passed along these observations: "I have been doing criminal
investigations and enforcing the Immigration & Nationality Act for over 32
years. I can assure you that any 'temporary' worker bill with or without
an amnesty component will NOT solve the immigration problem. Twenty years
ago our Congress promised us that the amnesty passed then would be a
one-time amnesty. Here we are again. The best we can hope for at this
juncture is no bill whatsoever from Congress. Let's enforce those already
on the books!"

An administrative assistant from SSA in Glendale, AZ had this comment:
"Illegal, is just that - against the law. I am only second generation
American. Both sets of my grandparents came over here legally. Why should
we let these people come here and receive benefits our own citizens who
are just abover the poverty level can not receive - i.e., medical care,
food stamps, etc. And why should just being born here make you a citizen
when your parents are here illegally? Does any other country abide by this
ridiculous policy?"

A supervisory HR specialist from the Navy in San Diego said: "Immigrants
of all varieties have made this country what it is. However, the large
number of unchecked, undocumented, illegal aliens that have been allowed
to flood our border in the past decade have taxed our medical, education,
employment and justice systems to the breaking point and American citizens
are the losers."

An employee relations specialist with the Air Force in Valpariso, FL
summarized his beliefs this way: "How many languages should a teacher,
policeman, federal employee need to know to do their job? Other countries
don't force their people learn English and print specialty forms for me.
For immigrants to be successful, they need to learn English to advance. If
they are not citizens of our country, then they should not receive the
benefits of the social programs."

A compliance officer with the Dept. of Labor in Nashville, TN wants more
taxes on illegal immigrants: "If anyone wants to come to America through
the proper legal channels to have a better life, more power to them. After
all, that's how all of us got here anyway. However, if you are not a legal
or naturalized citizen in my opinion you have no civil rights in this
country and should not be asking for special treatment here considering
that there is probably no reciprocity from the home country. No other
country handles illegal immigration the way the U.S. does and I feel we
are making a huge mistake to even consider relaxing the laws on
immigration. Here's a thought: if you want to come here as a non-citizen
and work you should be taxed at a higher rate than those of us who are
citizens for the privilege of working here."

A human resources specialist from the Dept. of Labor in Chicago sees a
racial motive behind the wave of immigration: "I believe that we have
enough American citizens to do the jobs that immigrants are currently
doing. The reason non-Americans are doing these jobs is because the people
who hire them would rather have an immigrant rather than an
African-American working in their company."

A security specialist with DoD in California said "We demand our country
back": "They do not come here to work even when they say they do, they
come for the free benefits without working. English started out as the
national language why shouldnt now be the official national language? One
language, one nation. We demand our country back."

A manager in Miramar Beach, FL said: "I for one don't like the thought of
my tax money going to pay for people who should not be here in the first
place. We have a big enough federal deficit as it is and this seems to
just be another unnecessary burden which further fuels the runaway federal
spending. Having immigrants in the country is fine and certainly has some
benefits, but they need to come here legally."

An HR specialist with the Forest Service in Vallejo, CA is disappinted in
government: "I was born and raised in N. CA for over 30 yrs and then went
to work in D.C.--the melting pot of all nationalities. Everyone there
spoke English and had a job, business. Here in CA the majority of people
are Hispanic (which isn't a bad thing at all) but they have been here for
years and still don't speak the language or work. I am very disappointed
with the government in my home state."

A program specialist with IHS in Santa Fe, NM wrote: "While not ALL
immigrants are immoral;,it has been my experience that most milk the
taxpayers, commit crimes and/or support the commission of crimes, be it
fraud or drug trafficking."

A software engineer with DoD in Ogden, Utah opined: "Illegal immigrants
cost everybody money in many ways. Your rising health care costs is a
perfect example. Because of their inability to pay, health care is free
for them. The rest of us are paying for it. That's full B.S. that they do
the work nobody else will do. The businesses that hire them, pay them less
but charge you the same"

An employee of the Forest Service in John Day, OR expressed these
sentiments similar to numerous others we received: "...English is the
official language of the United States and as immigrants in the past have
so should immigrants today and in the future respect realize and
understand that this is the language that this country uses. My grandma
when she immigrated from Norway understood this, my great grandfather when
he immigrated from Germany understood this and neither ethnic group tried
to impose their will of language on the rest of this country for their
convenience. If you're coming to the USA and plan to become a citizen and
work and live here you will be expected to speak english!

Not all readers were opposed to the current or proposed immigration
situation.

This program manager from the Dept. of Health and Human Services in Dallas
said: "To consider deporting 11 million people , in the face of the
inability of Government to assist 350,000 Katrina evacuees, is not only
idiotic but mean spirited. Making it a felony to assist undocumented
(immigrants) would have the effect of making crimninals out of priests,
social workers and school teachers."

An analyst with DoD in Jacksonville, FL sees a different racial angle:
"Where are the 11 million from other countries than Mexico? Why be
prejudiced toward Mexicans?"

A supervisory HR specialist with Veterans Affairs in Arizona commented:
"This country seems to be heading more towards an isolationist view point,
much like Japan centuries back, and it wasn't successful for them. This is
a country of immigrants and while I don't support illegal activities, we
need to review our immigration program and create one that is more
supportive of various options for legal immigration and guest worker
programs. Having lived in a border state for 50+ years, I absolutely
detest the building of our own 'Berlin or Chinese wall' between us and
Mexico. It certainly doesn't support my viewpoint about what this country
was founded for. Openness, equal opportunity, and opportunities for a
better life."

And an IT specialist from Petersburg, VA has this point of view: "We are a
nation of immigrants, we need to recognize that the majority of people
that came here did not have a visa as one was not required. The folks that
are coming in need to be supported as they are doing what our parents and
grandparents did ... working very hard to support their families and make
things better for everyone."

Thanks to all readers who took the time to send in their opinions and
comments on this important issue.


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