English is our language; but there are a lot of good and decent LEGAL immigrants who have difficulty learning a new language - especially if they come here as older people.
No pass to ‘Luisito’, who can speak English as well as he wants to. But I have known lots of LEGAL immigrants who try their best, but simply can’t learn to be fluent in a new language. Learning languages is a gift/talent, and unless one is gifted, learning is exercised best when one is young.
I have no problem with LEGAL immigrants who have a difficult time with the language, and I think it’s important to be patient with them, and help them.
I only care that they TRY.
(My husband’s great-grandparents came here from Italy. They had a hard time learning English, but DEMANDED that their kids only speak English. They wanted to assimilate, and wanted their kids and grandkids to be Americans.)
I have no problem with legal immigrants speaking their native language.
But our official language is English, and always has been.
“..immigrants who try their best, but simply can’t learn to be fluent in a new language...” and “..I think it’s important to be patient with them, and help them...”
Agreed. No problem with that at all.
But that’s not what Louie wants. So he can go pound sand.