Posted on 06/24/2007 9:00:40 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The vast majority of people in the United States believe everybody who calls themselves an American citizen should speak the national language, according to a poll by Hart/Newhouse released by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News. 89 per cent of respondents support having all immigrants applying for citizenship being required to learn English.
In May 2006, U.S. president George W. Bush addressed the nation to discuss his immigration proposals. Bush outlined five clear objectives: securing the borders, creating a temporary worker program, holding employers to account for the workers they hire, allowing illegal immigrants "who have roots" in the country to apply for citizenship, and helping newcomers assimilate into American society.
In May, the U.S. Senate discussed a revised immigration bill, which would allow illegal immigrants to come forward and obtain a "Z visa." After paying fees, a $5,000 U.S. fine and then returning to their home countries, they could apply for permanent residency, which could be granted in eight to 13 years. 35 per cent of respondents support allowing illegal workers who arrived in the U.S. to apply for permanent U.S. residency if they return to their home country within eight years and pay additional fines, and 30 per cent would let illegal workers who arrived in the U.S. before this year to receive an automatic work visa if they pay a fine of around $5,000 U.S.
The bill also includes a proposal to introduce a points system that would prioritize access to the U.S. for skilled and educated immigrants, as well as new family-reunification guidelines. 74 per cent of respondents would support imposing new fines on businesses that hire illegal immigrants.
On Jun. 7, the U.S. Senate voted 45-50 on a motion to limit debate on the proposed immigration bill. Members of both the Republican and Democratic parties have suggested shifting the bill’s focus towards national security as a way to save it from its current stalemate. 65 per cent of respondents are in favour of increasing security in the U.S.-Mexico border.
The U.S. Senate is due to resume talks on the proposed immigration bill next week, and will revise up to 20 amendments that were proposed by members of both parties. Yesterday, Democratic Illinois senator Dick Durbin expressed concern for the fate of the legislation, saying, "If there are amendments offensive to Democratic senators, we won’t produce (enough votes). If there are amendments offensive the other way, you can imagine the result."
In March 2006, the Pew Hispanic Center calculated the number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. at somewhere between 11.5 million to 12 million.
Polling Data
Now I would like to get your reaction to several parts of a possible new immigration bill. Please tell me whether you strongly favour, somewhat favour, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose each of the following parts of this bill.
Support Oppose Unsure
All immigrants who apply to be U.S. citizens would be required to learn English 89% 10% 1%
Imposing new fines on businesses that hire illegal immigrants 74% 23% 3%
Increasing border security by building a fence along part of the U.S. border with Mexico and by hiring and training more border patrol agents 65% 31% 4%
Immigrants who want to come to the U.S. to work and who are not already here could apply for a two-year work visa that they could renew up to two times 79% 18% 3%
Allowing illegal workers who arrived in the U.S. to apply for permanent U.S. residency if they return to their home country within eight years and pay additional fines 35% 55% 10%
Allowing illegal workers who arrived in the U.S. before January 1st of this year to receive an automatic work visa if they pay a fine of around five thousand dollars 30% 64% 6%
Source: Hart/Newhouse / The Wall Street Journal / NBC News Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,008 American adults, conducted from Jun. 8 to Jun. 11, 2007. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.
While only 11 per cent of respondents pressed 2 for Spanish.
These results show that the people do indeed understand what is in the bill.
When I became an American citizen in 1975, there was a requirement to speak, understand, read and write English...
When did that change?
Yup, and it's working! Gonna be another long week of phone calls, letters, and e-mails, but it's worth it! Looks like about 85% of 'We-The-People' are working on this one.
Also, write to President Bush, too! Be polite in your message, even though you know he'll never see it, but tell of your unhappiness. The sheer number of e-mails WILL be reported to him ................... FRegards
At least there’s huge consensus that immigrants should become proficient in English.
Also, the citizenship requirements for English hardly count as fluency in English. It should be made more difficult, to divulge whether the immigrant has what it takes to assimilate into society--so basic English, but fluent in it.
Since when did Americans speak English? All this, ‘color, favor, labor, wrench, fawcett..’ nonsense you chaps insist on is just not cricket.
[ducks for covers]
All in U.S. Should Speak English.....that about says it all...
now to hear this in spanish ~ press 2...in chinese ~ press 3....korean ~ press 4....arabic ~ press 5....etc....etc!!!
Personally for labeling it as ‘American’ and considering it to be a separate language from English (though—obviously—mutually intelligible (largely)).
Theodore Roosevelt’s ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907. “In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.” - Theodore Roosevelt 1907
I question how a immigrant proves that he can speak and understand English. Assuming the way the government works I bet all one has to do is walk in and say, “I want” and he is in. There is speaking English and then there is speaking English.
I was refering to the loving wife of Steve Austin...probably
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