U.S.ENGLISH Chairman Statement on English Requirement for Naturalization

"When I came to the United States from my native Chile, I knew that English was the language of my new country. When I became a United States citizen five years later, I was proud to swear my oath of allegiance in English.

"The English language requirement for naturalization points the way for immigrants to integrate into society and take advantage of the many opportunities available in this country. While current law provides exceptions for those who are incapable of learning English, immigrants who can learn English should do so if they truly desire to become American citizens."

U.S.ENGLISH is a national, non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting English as the common language of the United States. The group was founded in 1983 by the late Sen. S. I. Hayakawa of California, and now has over 1.3 million members nationwide.