Basic skill: Immigrants need to know and use adopted nation's common tongue

There is an elephant in the room. And as talk of immigration reform and what to do with the millions of illegal immigrants who are already in this country continues, it is a subject that every community across this country needs to address -- and soon.

It boils down to the basics of being an American, and what we, as citizens of this nation, have a right to expect from those who wish to join our ranks.

The question is: What do we do about the fact that many of these immigrants cannot speak English or function effectively in an English-dominated society?

The answer to the question has many consequences -- and many hidden pitfalls.

The area of most concern is perhaps the schools, where districts are having to spend millions of dollars to create dual-language curriculum and to provide alternate materials and instruction for those whose first language is not English. These adaptations, while understandably necessary for some students, are expensive and tough to staff and to fund.

Do we have a plan in place for dealing with this increased burden on our educational system? Or, do we have a way to deal with the fact that many of these non-English speakers are unable to navigate some of our basic government services or our judicial system? Our guess is absolutely not.

The truth is, we should require English proficiency -- or at least the effort to become English-proficient -- as a requirement for pursuing a legal route to citizenship. It is critical to functioning in this country. Those who come in on temporary worker's visas should have some English skills as well.

And the first step is creating an expectation.

More money should be spent on English as a Second Language classes -- they are critical for those who want to be able to attend school or who want to be functioning members of society. They should be required of those who wish to stay here and those who wish to work here.

Citizenship classes should be required to help immigrants assimilate into their new country and to give them a perspective on what it is like to be an American.

And if you are not pursuing citizenship the proper way or if you have not signed up for temporary worker status, then you should be deported if you are caught, period.

The argument against deporting illegal immigrants is that this nation was built on the backs of those who came to this country from other places to build better lives.

True. But the vast majority of them were those who entered the country legally and who wanted to be and did everything necessary to become citizens.

This country should welcome anyone who wants to become a U.S. citizen the proper and legal way.

Learning this nation's language is not an onerous requirement. It doesn't mean that those who come here have to surrender their heritage and family customs. There are plenty of Americans of European descent who can attest to that.

But it is a must to function in this country.

We have a right to set some rules for becoming a U.S. citizen. And learning how to speak English should be one of the very first requirements -- amnesty or no amnesty.

Published in Editorials on November 25, 2014 10:38 AM