The Politics of English in America

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From someone who has called Boston home since the early 1990s, it feels like a civic obligation to wish you a Happy St. Patrick’s Day. And while we’re at it, let’s not forget Ireland’s deep ties with Mexico and Puerto Rico.

This is the 40th week of The Latino Newsletter, and this is today's win.

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Now, on to today's featured story.

With President Trump signing a March 1 executive order making English the official language of the United States, I wanted to highlight a data-dive post that Pew Research published on Monday. Although it doesn't directly address Trump's order, the survey from last August “provides a sense of public opinion on the topic,” Pew noted in an email.

Here are three findings that caught my attention:

First-generation immigrants are more likely than second-generation Americans to support making English the official language.

• “About half of those born in the U.S. (52%) and 46% of immigrants say English should be the country’s official language.”

• “Second-generation adults (36%) are less likely than either immigrants (46%) or those who are third generation or higher (54%) to say English should be the official language of the U.S.”

Across racial and political lines, the majority of Americans believe speaking English is key to being “truly” American.

• “Over three-quarters of U.S. adults say that speaking English is key for being ‘truly’ American, according to an April 2024 Center survey. Majorities of White (82%), Asian (78%), Hispanic (75%) and Black (72%) adults say this, as do immigrants (80%) and those born in the U.S. (79%). Republicans (92%) are overwhelmingly likely to say this, while a smaller majority of Democrats (67%) say the same.”

Latino adults are the least likely racial/ethnic group to support making English the official language.

• “White adults (57%) are more likely than Asian (47%), Black (45%) and Hispanic (36%) adults to say English should be the nation’s official language. Notably, 38% of Hispanic adults say it is not at all or not too important to make English the national language.”

You can read the complete analysis here.

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What We’re Reading

Statement About Alien Enemies Act: On Monday, four Democratic senators —Alex Padilla (CA), Cory Booker (NJ), Dick Durbin (IL), and Peter Welch (VT), all members of the Senate Judiciary Committee— published a joint statement about President Trump invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

This quote struck a chord: “Let’s be clear: we are not at war, and immigrants are not invading our country.”

The Associated Press published more about this 18th-century law.

About the Author

Julio Ricardo Varela is the founder and publisher of The Latino Newsletter.

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