Three New York Congressmembers strongly oppose President Donald Trump’s plan to sign an executive order declaring English the official language of the United States, calling it a discriminatory move that undermines the rights of immigrants and individuals with limited English proficiency. The proposal emerges amid ongoing debates over immigration policy and national identity, which have been contentious issues throughout Trump’s political tenure, including his previous term in office from 2017 to 2021 and his return to the presidency in 2025.
In a joint statement, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), and Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09) criticized the executive order, stating that it is a “thinly veiled attempt to allow federal agencies to discriminate against immigrants and individuals with limited English proficiency.” These lawmakers represent districts with significant immigrant populations—such as Queens, the Bronx, and Brooklyn—where multilingual communities have long thrived and contributed to New York’s cultural and economic fabric.
Under the proposed order, federal agencies would no longer be required to provide language-access services for non-English speakers—a policy rooted in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which mandates equal access to federal programs regardless of language barriers. This change could affect millions of Americans who rely on government programs and services, particularly in a nation where, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 22% of the population speaks a language other than English at home—a figure that has steadily risen for decades due to immigration from Asia, Latin America, and beyond.
The lawmakers warned that the order could make it significantly harder for seniors, non-native English speakers, and working-class immigrants to access essential services such as Social Security, Medicare, and other federal benefits. “What happens when a senior with limited English proficiency needs help accessing their earned Social Security benefits? Or when a non-native English speaker needs help enrolling in Medicare?” the statement questioned.
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The Congressmembers further accused Trump of failing to uphold his promise to support everyday Americans, a pledge central to his populist campaigns in 2016 and 2024. They called the executive order “reckless” and said it “only serves to make life harder for working people.”
They emphasized that while English remains the de facto language of the nation, America has always been a multilingual society—a legacy dating back to its colonial era, when Dutch, Spanish, French, and dozens of Indigenous languages coexisted alongside English. “People who speak a language other than English are just as American as those who do. That has been true since the founding of our country. We will not let President Trump change this fact,” the lawmakers asserted.
The Tri-Caucus leaders vowed to challenge the executive order and “fight to protect Americans’ right to access federal services in any language.”
Susan Shrestha
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