Linette Garcia | Staff Writer
Growing up in a Spanish-speaking community in South Florida, most people understood basic English. When ordering from a menu or asking for directions, immigrants made an effort to learn basic English as a second language to assimilate into the United States while preserving their culture and linguistic diversity. It is a slap in the face to immigrants that, on Feb. 6, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) updated its driver’s license exams to be administered exclusively in English, removing language options.
According to FLHSMV, the new rule was implemented to ensure safe driving on our roads. However, changing all knowledge and skills examinations to just English seems like another xenophobic attack against immigrants in the state.
Unfortunately, I’m not surprised this policy was enforced—the Trump administration has been cracking down on commercial truckers who can’t speak English since he took office, removing thousands from the roads after they failed English proficiency tests over the faults of one. The demonization of immigrants in this country skyrocketed in recent years, and because the Florida government heavily follows the Trump administration’s orders, it will enact every possible law to disenfranchise them.
For many, driving is essential for their livelihood, as Miami isn’t a walkable city. Public transportation is also out of the question because it does not provide convenient service to Miami residents and visitors. Putting up a barrier to basic rights based on language—mind you, the United States has no official language—is a cowardly attempt to ostracize a community that is already unjustly vilified.
Not only does this decision remove driving rights from non-English speaking individuals, but it will also further restrict voting rights. Florida, as many other states, already has a tough voter ID law that requires anyone to display picture identification to vote. But, there is a list of acceptable cards to use for voting, with driver’s licenses being one of the easiest to obtain. The elimination of other languages can affect the voting rights of naturalized citizens who can’t speak fluent English.
Spanish is the most widely spoken non-English language in the United States. In Florida, 23.4 percent of residents speak Spanish, with more than 2 million Latinos residing in the Miami area alone. To punish millions of people by eliminating their driving privileges for not speaking English is another type of villainous behavior.
FIU students, faculty, and their families who immigrated to Florida to attend the university and cannot communicate proficiently in English will also suffer from this policy. While FIU continues to comply with the absurdity within the state government, the students advocate against it, and this rule will be no exception. Without driver’s licenses, more than 60% of FIU students won’t have access to opportunities, as driving opens doors to go to classes, jobs, and internships across the state.
Instead of penalizing people for not being fluent in English, the state should offer easier access to language learning without limiting them from crucial services. Free tutoring programs can be a great start to make learning English possible while still allowing people to participate fully in society. At FIU’s writing center, they hold free conversation circles for students who want to improve their linguistic skills, including English, Spanish, Mandarin, and American Sign Language. Or, reverse the unnecessary policy and give immigrants the chance to take driving tests in their first language, whether that’s Spanish, Haitian Creole, or French.
It’s a dangerous time to be an immigrant in this country. Every day, a new policy or rule alteration is applied that systematically targets them. FLHSMV eliminating all languages besides English may seem minor at first, but these changes will accumulate into something profoundly irrevocable. While our efforts are small, protesting for our fellow immigrant FIU students and faculty instills the courage to persevere during these challenging times.
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