Members of the NYC Language Justice Collaborative Condemn President Trump’s Executive Order Mandating English as the Official Language of the United States
This policy threatens to marginalize 2.5 million New Yorkers who are not fluent in English but are proficient in other languages.
New York, NY — The members of the Language Justice Collaborative (LJC), namely, New York Immigration Coalition, Asian American Federation, Masa, African Communities Together (ACT), Immigrant ARC, and Haitian Americans United for Progress (HAUP) released the following joint statement in response to President Trump’s executive order issued on March 1, 2025, declaring English as the language to be used to conduct official, day-to-day business of the United States.
We condemn President Trump’s latest executive order, which breaks with 200 years of tradition and the First Amendment’s protections of free speech by restricting it to a single language. All Americans, no matter what language they speak, or when they arrived in the country, deserve fair opportunities so that we can all thrive together. The hundreds of languages we speak is one of our nation’s strengths, and narrowing our official language to English will only create more barriers: to vital services, to educating our children, to voting, and to practicing our vibrant cultures. Limiting a grandmother’s access to Medicare because she is not fluent in English or effectively blocking children in poverty from food assistance because their mother cannot read an application is cruel and goes against our core American values. This policy threatens to marginalize 2.5 million New Yorkers who are not fluent in English but are proficient in other languages. Language access remains one of the biggest barriers immigrants face in getting the critical services they’ve already paid for with their taxes. Instead of making access harder, we need practical solutions that expand access even more. We urge the State of New York to quickly enact the Language Access Expansion Act (S.5535/A.4875) so that no New Yorkers are denied help simply because of the language they speak.
“America will always be a multilingual and multicultural society, no matter how many xenophobic policies Donald Trump tries to enact. It is unclear how far this shameful ‘English only’ executive order will be implemented, but denying people the right to interact with government agencies and access services they are eligible for in the language they speak will cause severe harm not just for the people seeking services and information, but for society as a whole as civic participation diminishes. Rather than working towards a more inclusive and vibrant country, this order sends a message that linguistic diversity should be erased instead of celebrated–and that immigrants with limited English language proficiency are somehow less deserving of access to our government. We stand against this exclusionary policy. A prosperous society must achieve language justice, to ensure that all communities have access to the essential resources they need to thrive in the United States,” said Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition.
“In an increasingly globalized world, multilingualism makes America stronger. Africa is home to literally thousands of languages, and many of our African immigrant members speak several of them, as well as international languages like French, Arabic, and yes, English. Immigrants need support and resources to help learn English and become part of American society, not scapegoating and political stunts. ACT and the Language Justice Collaborative will continue advocating for equitable access and real solutions. This executive order will do nothing but harm,” said Amaha Kassa, Executive Director of African Communities Together.
“Our nation’s rich diversity and multilingualism are strengths that should be celebrated and not feared. Limited English proficient community members and new arrivals, including those who speak indigenous languages, should have access to information and services in the languages they feel most comfortable in, so that they can thrive and integrate into the fabric of our community. This executive order is yet another example of the xenophobic behavior driving this administration’s decision-making process and demonstrates how our collective well-being is being blatantly disregarded to benefit and placate the few. As part of the Language Justice Collaborative and as a firm advocate for our collective human rights, including our language rights, we unequivocally reject and stand firmly against this executive order and all that it represents,” said Aracelis Lucero, Executive Director of Masa.
“For 50 years, HAUP has been a pillar for Haitian and Creole-speaking communities, advocating for equitable access to services, education, and opportunities. Language access is not just about communication, it is about dignity, inclusion, and fundamental human rights. Restricting language access policies will disproportionately harm immigrant communities, creating barriers to essential services, limiting civic participation, and further marginalizing those already facing systemic inequities. As an organization serving Creole speakers, we have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of multilingual access in empowering individuals to engage fully in society. This executive order directly attacks that principle, and we stand firmly against it,” said Elsie Saint Louis, Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director, Haitian Americans United for Progress.
“This executive order is a direct attack on due process and a blatant attempt to make an already punitive immigration system even more inaccessible. By eliminating translations of vital legal information, the administration is effectively ensuring that those who most need to understand their rights—people navigating a system that, by definition, applies to non-English speakers—are left in the dark. At a time when immigration enforcement is increasingly focused on imprisonment and exile, the right to understand and defend oneself is more critical than ever. Stripping language access is not just cruel; it undermines the fundamental principles of justice,” said Camille Mackler, Chief Executive Officer of Immigrant ARC.
“We are proud of the diversity of our communities and celebrate the many languages Asian New Yorkers speak. While many are also fluent in English, over 637,000 individuals still need significant language support. President Trump’s Executive Order mandating English as the official language is yet another attempt to fuel discrimination and fear against these hard-working New Yorkers. We refuse to stay silent while our communities struggle to access the services they work hard to pay for with their taxes. We call on our leaders to ensure our communities can access the services they deserve, exercise their voting rights, prosper, and celebrate their cultures in their languages. We refuse to let this administration push them to the margins,” said Joo Han and Andrew Sta. Ana, Interim Co-Executive Directors, Asian American Federation.
———————
In 2016, the Language Justice Collaborative was formed to enhance and broaden NYC’s language access policy, uniting African Communities Together, the Asian American Federation, Masa, the New York Immigration Coalition, Haitians United for Progress (HAUP), and Immigrant ARC. Focused on languages of limited diffusion, the coalition advocates for immigrant language accessibility.
The Language Justice Collaborative’s goal is to ensure immigrants from Africa, Asia, and Latin America receive the essential resources they need to live a productive, healthy, and fulfilling life, and a community interpreter bank in tandem with language services worker co-ops takes us one step closer to achieving that outcome.
