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37 Cal. W. Int'l L.J. 329 (2006-2007)
No Hablo Ingles: Waivers to the English Language Requirement for Naturalization

handle is hein.journals/calwi37 and id is 335 raw text is: COMMENT No HABLO INGLIS: WAIVERS TO THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT FOR NATURALIZATION No man is a desirable citizen of the United States who does not know the English language.I I. INTRODUCTION Susana, a plump and smiling forty-five year old woman from Mexico lawfully resides in Nogales, Arizona. She has had her mica (greencard) for about ten years, and when asked why she has not ap- plied for citizenship in the United States, she sadly responded in Span- ish: I would like to become a U.S. citizen, but I can't learn English. My kids tried teaching me. It just won't get into my head.,2 If Susana could speak, read, and write in basic English, she would qualify for naturalization. Susana is not alone. Around forty percent of the population cur- rently eligible to naturalize report they speak English 'not well' or 'not at all.'3 Although this data should be viewed somewhat cau- tiously, it does indicate that substantial numbers of legal permanent residents may be indefinitely disenfranchised from meaningful politi- cal participation in the Untied States because they have not acquired 1. COMM'N ON NATURALIZATION, REPORT TO THE PRESIDENT, H.R. Doc. No. 59-46 at 11 (1905). 2. Interview with Susana Torres in Nogales, Ariz. (Aug. 14, 2006). In Spanish, Susana Torres explained: Me gustarfa hacerme ciudadana Americana, pero no pue- do aprender ingl6s. Mis hijos trataron de ensefiarme, pero no me entra en la cabeza. 3. Sarah Margon, Naturalization in the United States, MIGRATION POL'Y INST. (May 1, 2004), available at http://www.migrationinformation.org/USFocus /print.cfm?ID=225. 329

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