President Donald Trump has signed an executive order declaring English as the official language of the United States, saying it will help ensure a "unified and cohesive society” in a nation that has long prided itself on being the “melting pot of the world.”
The move marks the first time the United States has had an official language at the national level, although some 30 U.S. states have designated it as their official language.
“From the founding of our Republic, English has been used as our national language,” Trump said in the order published on March 1.
“Our Nation's historic governing documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, have all been written in English. It is therefore long past time that English is declared as the official language of the United States.”
“A nationally designated language is at the core of a unified and cohesive society, and the United States is strengthened by a citizenry that can freely exchange ideas in one shared language.”
SEE ALSO: Trump To Bolster Security At Mexican Border With 3,000 Additional TroopsSome activists have expressed concerns about the effect the action will have on non-English speakers when it comes to immigration matters, voting procedures, and access to assistance.
The move revokes a mandate from former President Bill Clinton that required government agencies and organizations that received federal funding to provide language assistance to non-English speakers.
It will allow such agencies and organizations to decide whether to continue offering documents and services in other languages.
The order stated that "agency heads are not required to amend, remove, or otherwise stop production of documents, products, or other services prepared or offered in languages other than English."
According to a U.S. government website, people in the United States communicate in more than 350 languages. The U.S. Census Bureau said some of the most widely spoken languages other than English are Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Arabic.
Native North American languages, including Navajo, Yupik, Dakota, Apache, Keres, and Cherokee, are also spoken.
"Speaking English not only opens doors economically, but it helps newcomers engage in their communities, participate in national traditions, and give back to our society, Trump stated.
"This order recognizes and celebrates the long tradition of multilingual American citizens who have learned English and passed it to their children for generations to come."