Differing Viewpoints

It was a press briefing at the White House.  Stephen Miller, policy aide to Donald Trump was at the podium to discuss new immigration legislation.  CNN's Jim Acosta began an exchange with Mr. Miller by saying:

"What you're proposing and what the president is proposing does not sound like it's in keeping with American tradition when it comes to immigration. The Statue of Liberty says, 'Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.' It doesn't say anything about speaking English or being a computer programmer. Aren't you trying to change what it means to be an immigrant coming into this country if you're telling them you have to speak English? Can't people learn how to speak English when they get here?"

Miller responded:

"Right now it's a requirement that, to be naturalized, you have to speak English," Miller said, dripping with condescension, "so the notion that speaking English wouldn't be part of our immigration system would be very ahistorical." Speaking fluent English is not — nor has it ever been — a requirement to become a naturalized citizen in the United States.

I found two very different pieces on the internet regarding this press briefing.

Politico - Stephen Miller TKOs Jim Acosta

PopSugar - You Don't Have to Speak English to Be a US Citizen — No Matter What the White House Claims

It must be noted that the Politico piece is identified as "Opinion" while the PopSugar piece is not.  Both show a clear bias and are not objective at all about the issues involved.

* * *

Do you have to speak English to become a naturalized citizen?  The nuance here is that the PopSugar writer put the word "fluent" in between "Speaking" and "English" which changes the context.  Miller didn't say fluent.  He said English.  

This is from the USCIS website:

Naturalization Eligibility Requirements

Before an individual applies for naturalization, he or she must meet a few requirements. Depending on the individual’s situation, there are different requirements that may apply. General requirements for naturalization are below.

• Be at least 18 years old at the time of filing Form N-400, Application for Naturalization.
• Be a permanent resident (have a “Green Card”) for at least 5 years.
• Show that you have lived for at least 3 months in the state or USCIS district where you apply. 
• Demonstrate continuous residence in the United States for at least 5 years immediately preceding the date of filing Form N-400. 
• Show that you have been physically present in the United States for at least 30 months out of the 5 years immediately preceding the date of filing Form N-400. 
• Be able to read, write, and speak basic English. 
• Have a basic understanding of U.S. history and government (civics). 
• Be a person of good moral character. 
• Demonstrate an attachment to the principles and ideals of the U.S. Constitution
  

By the same token, it was disingenuous to claim that the Emma Lazarus poem wasn't part and parcel of the Statue of Liberty from the outset, since she wrote and donated it to the project to pay for construction of the statue.  That the plaque wasn't added until 1903 is meaningless.

This is the kind of thing that lends credence to the cries of "fake news."  There needs to be a clearer delineation of what is news and what is opinion.