President Donald Trump has issued an executive order to designate English as the official language of the United States. 

According to Truthout, the order rescinds a previous executive action by President Bill Clinton, which required federal agencies to accommodate people who don’t speak English with interpreters and documents in their native language. Trump’s order will bar those accommodations and allow federal agencies to determine if those accommodations are necessary.

This ultimately means that federal agencies are permitted to deny accommodations to non-English speaking citizens in the US. As the decision unfolds, some argue that the decision will reinforce national unity while some argue that it could marginalize non-English speakers in the United States.

The White House released a statement, asserting that “a nationally designated language is at the core of a unified and cohesive society, and the United States is strengthened by a citizenry that can freely exchange ideas in one shared language.” In other words, the order aims to unite the people of America under a national language, promote shared culture, create a consistent society, and reinforce a national value. 

“Speaking English not only opens doors economically, but it helps newcomers engage in their communities, participate in national traditions, and give back to our society,” according to the White House. A similar argument in support of the order claims that designated English as the national language will allow immigrants to become a part of America’s national identity under a shared culture and dialect. 

Some argue that prioritizing one language may exclude and marginalize others who speak a different language.

Specifically, some believe that the order will impact immigrants who are struggling to gain citizenship and permanent residency.  Anabel Mendoza, the communications director for United We Dream, a nonprofit immigrant advocacy organization, said limiting the language of federal communication will make it harder for people to become citizens if they are denied the ability to speak their native tongue throughout the process.

Others, like George Carrillo, co-founder & CEO of the Hispanic Construction Council, argue this could affect millions of citizens who are not English proficient from receiving the help they need, further limiting access to services and creating challenges to educational opportunities.

“This executive order, while framed as promoting unity, risks dismantling critical supports like ESL programs and multilingual resources that help immigrants adapt and contribute,” Carillo said. “Imagine families navigating healthcare or legal systems without materials in a language they understand, it’s a barrier, not a bridge.”

Carrillo also expressed concerns about how this executive order might affect U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico, where the predominant language is Spanish.

Our country has always had an identity of diversity and inclusion, so many believe that the order aims to eliminate cultural inclusion and force different ethnicities to assimilate into English culture.

When speaking with Mr. Filippone, a social science teacher on campus, about how the order will affect Americans, he said “it depends on what the agencies do,” meaning the order’s influence truly depends on what level of accommodations that agencies have for non-English speaking citizens. 

Mr. Filippone continued that the order primarily affects “people who are getting green cards and work permits who don’t speak English.” This order primarily targets those that are new to America such as immigrants, which has caused serious debate and controversy.

He continued to explain how about 90-95% of people in America speak English, so the actual effects it could have on the majority of citizens are seemingly insignificant. 

It is clear that making English the official language of the United States is a complex issue with both potential benefits and significant challenges. Moving forward, students should be aware of how policies such as these will harm or help inclusion, opportunity, and diversity in our nation.