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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Donald Trump on Saturday signed an executive order to make English the official national language of the United States.
As reported by TIME, Trump stated that English has been the national language since the establishment of the US and should have been declared the official language long ago.
"Speaking English not only opens new economic opportunities but also helps newcomers to connect with their community, participate in national traditions, and contribute to society," he said.
The regulation overturns a rule set by President Bill Clinton 25 years ago, which required federal institutions and other federally funded entities to provide language services for speakers of languages other than English.
The order allows government agencies and organizations receiving federal funds to choose whether to continue offering documents and services in languages other than English.
The decision is feared to have a negative impact on immigrant communities and people in need of English language learning assistance, according to community advocacy groups.
However, Trump emphasized that designating an official language is in the best interest of the US national for promoting unity, ensuring consistency in government services, and serving as a bridge in social activities.
"Making English the official language not only facilitates communication but also strengthens the national values upheld together and creates a more cohesive and efficient society," he said.
Over 30 US states have enacted laws designating English as their official language, according to US English, a group advocating for English to be the official language in the United States.
For decades, members of the US Congress have introduced bills to designate English as the official language of the US, but those efforts have failed.
Just hours after being inaugurated as the US President on January 20, Donald Trump ordered the White House website and social media in Spanish to be deactivated.
Trump also shut down the White House Spanish-language website during his first term. The site was restored when President Joe Biden was inaugurated in 2021.
Spanish is the second largest language in the US, reflecting the large Latin community in the country.
According to the US Census Bureau in 2022, about 62 percent of people who speak a language other than English at home are reported to speak Spanish.
This declaration of the official language of the US takes place amidst Trump's efforts to curb migration to the US, which resulted in the deportation of thousands of Latin American immigrants.
Trump also pledged to launch the largest mass deportation operation in the US.
He even mocked speakers of languages other than English in the US during the 2024 presidential campaign.
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