OPINION:
In the aftermath of a devastating Florida truck crash that claimed three lives, the dangers of our fragmented immigration and driver’s licensing policies have been laid bare (“Transportation Department tightens non-citizen truck driver rules after fatal crash in Florida,” Web Sept. 26).
The driver in the Aug. 12 crash, Harjinder Singh, an Indian national who entered the United States illegally, later failed a federal post-crash assessment, answering just two of 12 English questions correctly and identifying only one of four road signs. Yet he was legally able to obtain commercial driver’s licenses in Washington and California, which issue licenses without proof of lawful immigration status.
This tragedy illustrates what ProEnglish has long warned: No one should receive a driver’s license — particularly a commercial license — without demonstrating English proficiency and legal presence. The problem, however, extends far beyond one driver or one state: 19 states plus the District of Columbia issue licenses to people without lawful status, creating inconsistent standards that undermine public safety nationwide.
The solution is not piecemeal but national: Congress must codify English as the official language of government operations. Without it, motor vehicle departments and other agencies are free to provide services in multiple languages, at taxpayer expense and often at the cost of safety. Codification would establish one uniform standard for all driver’s license testing and all government forms.
President Trump’s Executive Order 14224, declaring English the official language of U.S. government operations, was a historic and welcome step. But executive orders are temporary, subject to reversal by future administrations. That is why Congress must act by passing Sen. Bernie Moreno’s S.542 and Rep. Robert Aderholt’s H.R.1772, companion bills that would make English the permanent and official language of government.
Americans overwhelmingly agree. A 2025 Rasmussen/ProEnglish poll found that 73% of likely voters support making English the official language of the United States. This is not about exclusion; it is about safety, unity and efficiency. English is already our common civic language; it is time the law reflected that fact.
The Florida crash was not just an accident. It was a preventable tragedy. By codifying English and enforcing uniform licensing standards, Congress can ensure that safety and common sense prevail on America’s roads.
ELLEN HAMILTON-COTTEN
Executive director, ProEnglish
Washington
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