Joe biden faces criticism for saying migrants should learn english

https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-f...tizens-1480856


Former Vice President and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden is facing scrutiny after suggesting undocumented immigrants should have to learn English in order to become U.S. citizens during a campaign stop in Iowa.

In video shared to Twitter by Trump campaign Deputy Director of Communications Zach Parkinson, Biden can be seen telling supporters about his plan to create a "pathway for citizenship for the 11 million undocumented" in the U.S.

However, Biden states, "like every other person who's come here, they have to pass, they have to learn how to speak English, they have to demonstrate they pay their taxes...But it's a pathway."

Biden's 2020 immigration platform does not outline any requirement for undocumented immigrants to learn to speak English to access a pathway to citizenship.

Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign Town Hall on December 30, 2019 in Derry, New Hampshire. Biden has come under scrutiny for suggesting undocumented immigrants should have to learn English in order to become citizens.
SCOTT EISEN/GETTY
Instead, the Democratic hopeful's plan to "modernize America's immigration system" states that Biden will "aggressively advocate for legislation that creates a clear roadmap to legal status and citizenship for unauthorized immigrants who register, are up-to-date on their taxes, and have passed a background check."

While it does say that those in need of English language education support would be able to access it, it does not say that learning English would be a requirement to access a pathway to citizenship.

Undocumented immigrants, Biden's plan states, "are our mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters. They are our neighbors, co-workers, and members of our congregations and Little League teams."

They also "contribute in countless ways to our communities, workforce, and economy," Biden's platform states, noting that the IRS collected $23.6 billion from 4.4 million workers without Social Security numbers in 2015, with many of those workers being undocumented.

Despite an optimistic platform for the future of citizenship for undocumented immigrants, Biden's comments on Sunday attracted criticism on Twitter from Juan Escalante, a prominent immigration rights advocate who is also undocumented.

"My parents have worked over the past 19 years, paid their taxes, and given back to their community. They're in their late 50's and are integral to the fabric of Florida," Escalante said.

"You're going to deny them citizenship over a language requirement should they come out of the shadows?" he questioned.

My parents have worked over the past 19 years, paid their taxes, and given back to their community.

They’re in their late 50’s and are integral to the fabric of Florida.

You’re going to deny them citizenship over a language requirement should they come out of the shadows? https://t.co/4ddTyjHeQl

— Juan Escalante (@JuanSaaa) January 7, 2020
Newsweek has contacted the Biden and Trump campaigns for comment for this article.

In a statement sent to Politico journalist Alex Thompson, a Biden campaign official noted that "the verbal portion of the naturalization exam is administered in English (except for in very select cases) and our plan offers English language education support."

While that may be the case for naturalization, progressive groups like the Indivisible Guide, which is made up of former congressional staffers, have said that "emphasizing English as a prerequisite is an outdated idea that all of our candidates should be beyond."

Meanwhile, other critics have pointed out that the U.S. does not have an official language, raising questions as to why English would be required for undocumented immigrants already living in the country.

The way forward on immigration — and the way to beat Trump — is through inclusive, people-first policy. Emphasizing English as a prerequisite is an outdated idea that all of our candidates should be beyond. https://t.co/7B52SkXAPY

— Indivisible Guide (@IndivisibleTeam) January 6, 2020
While Biden's platform does not outline any language requirement for undocumented immigrants hoping to become citizens, this is not the first time that the Democrat has faced scrutiny over his own beliefs on whether undocumented immigrants should have to learn English in order to gain citizenship.

In 2006, Biden also faced questioning after he suggested that undocumented immigrants should have to "earn their way into the deal" in part by learning to "speak English."

"The Democratic position also recognizes you've got 11 million aliens... illegal aliens here," Biden told MSNBC host Chris Matthews in a 2006 interview, which the "GOP War Room" resurfaced in YouTube in May. "They have to have a way to earn their way into the deal. This isn't amnesty. They're required to take 11 years work. They've gotta pay a fine. They've got to learn to speak English. They've got to pass testing... "

After Matthews suggested that the U.S. would have "problems like Canada" if it encouraged "people to keep their foreign language," Biden responded that he could not "think of a country that has two languages as their accepted languages that is doing all that well, including Switzerland and Canada."

Trump will win 2020, its written on stone.

Which is a good thing, this old fool and the other democratic candidates are the worst ever smh.

Intentions are good but still....

Let's focus on more important things.

They way things are going right now Trump would Rick roll Biden any day.

Leftist need to chill. What is wrong with asking migrants to learn English.

You wouldn't let the guest in your house dictate how you live, right?

Lol when in Rome...

If only learning English is the only requirement...

Word...

As someone with a linguistics background I agree and disagree.

Where I disagree:
One has to take into consideration the geographical area in which we want to promote this 'policy' -let me explain what I mean. In parts of the USA, where there was and still remains a strong Spanish influence, it is unethical (IMO) to force people who have strong ties to the Spanish/Mexican/Hispanic culture to elevate English as the primary language in their day to day usage. In many parts of the country bordering Mexico, people who ONLY know Spanish are able to get by, simply by only knowing Spanish. It's just the way its been and you cannot force people to learn English, who see no reason to do so. In a country where we promote personal freedoms, it is up to those folks to determine whether it is worth it for them to learn English - yes they may be left behind, but if they are still able to get by with mainly Spanish and little English, why change that?

On the flip side -if you're in butt fuck nowhere Montana, then yes - please do learn English because the Spanish influence in these parts aren't as strong (if any) and not knowing English or bothering to learn it can cause a much bigger issue.

Mr Biden and people who follow the English Only movement must understand that if you want to promote such movement, then rally for English to be the Official language of the USA (currently it is not). Secondly, if you want to remove the Spanish influence, then these English Only people will need to do something about changing the names of states, cities, monuments, etc that are in the Spanish language, in parts where Spanish is still strong.

In other words, promoting this policy one should take into consideration these historical and geographical intricacies and base it on that.

Culture, identity, and language politics can be very sensitive subjects. Please view Romania and Moldova of such case when wanting to promote language policies. See Eastern Ukraine and Russia. See India and Pakistan with Hindi/Urdu AND then look at countries with an open mind on language policy - Belgium (French, German, and Dutch spoken) look at Switzerland (Romansch, Italian, French, and German are spoken)

Now Mr Biden and for those of you here promoting the English only movement - asks yourselves which society would you like the US to follow based on the political climate of the countries I referenced above? I'm sure the European countries have a much better relationship with one another and conflict amongst the languages spoken is minimal (if that).

Let me know if anyone has any questions or requires further explanation and I'd be happy to answer.

Hey FL_dreamer, read my previous post. Wouldn't your analogy apply to the folks who are in certain regions where knowing a language other than English causes 0 burden on that individual and society? I think it would.

I don't care if the parts used to have any linguistic ties to any other place. The United States has English as the default language. It is the language you are expected to know, understand, and write across all 50 states and disenfranchised territories and possessions. I would not go to Mexico and expect Mexicans to bend over backwards for me because I don't have a command of Spanish. They would be more likely to tell you to go fuck yourself.

Some areas are of an exception due to how strongly the area has ties to another language, for example Puerto Rico, but they still have a broad push over there towards English language acquisition. Even in Puerto Rico 72% "Speak English less than 'Very well' ." Meaning they have a significant and non-trivial command over the English language.

Let us skip the bullshit touchy feely liberalism, we all know they are talking about Spanish speaking Mexicans, and the minor and insignificant war torn nations like El Salvador, Guatamala, and Hondouras.

The problem with allowing one area to get by with one language is that it increases division amongst peoples. Language is supposed to unify us into one. Its supposed to help increase the cultural assimilation. How can you have civic participation if there is no common language? How can you access government services and communicate what you want if nobody there speaks Spanish? But if you let them continue to use their foreign languages without learning English as well then they will continue to have barriers to their success and advancement. I am not saying lets forget Spanish, I am saying they should have a sufficient mastery of the English language in order to properly assimilate into the United States.

Not knowing English in America is a significant barrier to success and financial achievement in the United States. 98% of trade and business in the United States is conducted using the English language. Virtually all universities conduct business in English, teach classes in English, and expect competency in the English language. Most Americans don't even know another language, they only know English.

On top of that to make matters worse, many Americans are barely able to have a proper command of the English language. They speak in a matter more primitive savages, than that of civilized peoples. A bastardization of the American language known as Ebonics and to a lesser degree American Deep South English.

I think, and have provided ample evidence for why English must be a strict and significant requirement, except for the elderly, and those above the age of 60-70, English should be a national requirement across all parts of the United States. To gain citizenship you should have fluency in the de-facto language of the country. You would not go to Mexico without a command of Spanish, or to China without knowing at least enough Mandarin to get by.

You do not have to lose your domain of Spanish, your cultural identity, Ebonics, dialects, or language to have fluency in proper English due to a condition in humans known as "bilingualism" where a person can retain more than one language. Some humans are even capable of retaining multiple languages.

In summary, the English language should be the common uniting language across the American nation. Domain over the English language provides increased access to employment, financial resources, and increased Educational opportunity. Allowing people to remain Spanish only places significant barriers towards advancement and realization of personal goals, increasing the likelihood of poverty.