[redwitch]

As I said, we've done them a great disservice. I have a friend in California who immigrated from San Salvador (legally!). He speaks English poorly and has no reason to really improve.

We were talking once and he made a statement I found profoundly sad. He told me the biggest difference between Hispanic immigrants (legal or illegal) and those that had come previously is that it was never their intent to stay in America permanently. He plans to move back "home" in about three years. His wife, who speaks fluent English and is an American citizen, doesn't. She's now living with her parents with their two children. He's living with his uncle and their family. His uncle speaks English quite well and has no intention of leaving of America.

Anyway, most Hispanics want to make enough money to start their own business in their home country and go back. Many of them never quite make enough money and have relegated themselves to second-class citizens, never being able to vote, to hold office, to truly have a job that will pay them the wages they desire so they can return home. So, they stay here, never learn English, have their unfulfilled dreams and stagnate.

As I said, we are doing a great disservice by allowing people to come here and not learn English.