After President Donald Trump signed an executive order last Saturday designating English as the official language of the United States, activists and advocacy groups have expressed alarm about what that will mean for non-English speakers when it comes to immigration, voter access and other issues.

The order will allow government agencies and organizations that receive federal funding to choose whether to continue to offer documents and services in languages other than English, according to a fact sheet. The move rescinds a mandate from former President Bill Clinton that required the government and organizations that received federal funding to provide language assistance to non-English speakers.

Designating English as the national language “promotes unity, establishes efficiency in government operations, and creates a pathway for civic engagement,” according to the White House. But some activists and organizations think the move is just another way for the president to stoke division and fear.

Those fears could be especially pronounced in Nevada where about a third of the population speaks a language other than English at home. Most of those individuals consist of Spanish speakers, followed by those who speak “Asian and Pacific Island languages.” The state also has the nation’s highest rate of undocumented people and the largest share of mixed-status families. 

Organizers from Make the Road Nevada, a pro-immigrant advocacy group, say that the executive order could make it harder for immigrant families to access everything from health care to emergency dispatch services and educational tools if federal agencies choose to rescind language services.  

“There is this really great confusion and inconsistency, potentially leaving millions of families without the clear information they need to safely and confidently navigate life in Nevada,” said Hallery Ferrini, an immigrant justice organizer with Make the Road.

What does it mean to have an official language?

According to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, an official language is what is used by the government to conduct official, day-to-day business. Having one or more official languages can help define a nation’s character and the cultural identity of those who live in it. 

Prioritizing one language may place certain people in a position of power and exclude others whose language is not recognized, according to the institute.

Trump’s order comes just after Nevada has headed in the opposite direction. State agencies in Nevada have begun to implement language access plans for those with limited English proficiency after lawmakers passed legislation in 2021 requiring those plans. In 2023, the Legislature set aside $25 million from the state’s general fund for agencies to develop and carry out language access plans.

Since then, more than 97 state agencies and boards have implemented translation services and hired in-house interpreters. Ferrini said she is hopeful that these state-level language access plans will mitigate some of the effects of Trump’s executive order, but she said the group will continue to fight for greater language services regardless. 

“We are trying to work with community leaders and elected officials to hold agencies accountable for ensuring meaningful language access remains available,” Ferrini said.

Sen. Fabian Doñate (D-Las Vegas), who spearheaded efforts to introduce language access plans, said that although he is not sure what the direct impacts of Trump’s executive order will be, he will continue to fight to ensure that language access services remain available for Nevadans for the “foreseeable future.” 

“Despite efforts to erase us, we still exist,” Doñate said. 

U.S. English, a group that advocates for making English the official language in the United States, believes having an official language provides a common means of communication, encourages immigrants to learn English to use government services and “defines a much-needed common sense language policy.”

Currently, there are more than 350 languages spoken in the United States, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. The most widely spoken languages other than English are Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese and Arabic.

People in the U.S. also speak Native North American languages such as Navajo, Yupik, Dakota, Apache, Keres and Cherokee, among others. In Nevada, there are four Native languages recognized by tribes: Northern Paiute, Southern Paiute, Washoe and Western Shoshone. 

Potential impact on citizenship and voting

Anabel Mendoza, the communications director for United We Dream, a nonprofit immigrant advocacy organization, said limiting the language of federal communication will make it harder for people to become citizens if they are denied the ability to speak their native tongue throughout the process. Currently, people of certain age and residency requirements can qualify for a waiver to do the citizenship test and interview in their native language.

“Trump is trying to send the message that if you’re not white, rich and speak English you don’t belong here,” Mendoza said. “Let me be clear: Immigrants are here to stay. No matter how hard Trump tries, he can’t erase us.”

George Carrillo, co-founder & CEO of the Hispanic Construction Council, said it seems like a step backwards in a country that has championed its diversity. He is also concerned how limiting governmental communication might affect U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico where the predominant language is Spanish.

“This executive order, while framed as promoting unity, risks dismantling critical supports like ESL programs and multilingual resources that help immigrants adapt and contribute,” Carrillo said. “Imagine families navigating health care or legal systems without materials in a language they understand. It’s a barrier, not a bridge.”

APIAVote, a nonpartisan nonprofit focused on registering Asian American and Pacific Islander voters, also expressed worry this could mean barriers for millions of voters such as naturalized citizens or elderly residents who aren’t English-proficient.

“It will make it harder for them to participate civically and vote, as well as access critical healthcare, economic and education resources,” the group said in a statement.

Furthermore, the organization says this action could make anyone who speaks another language a target.

“The exclusionary nature of this policy will only fuel xenophobia and discrimination at a time when anti-Asian hate and hate against other minority and immigrant groups are rising.”

States that have English as the official language

Nevada does not have an “official language.”

But more than 30 states, from California to New Hampshire, as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands, have already passed laws designating English as their official language, according to U.S. English. Hawaii is the only state to declare two official languages, English and Hawaiian.

For decades, lawmakers in Congress have introduced legislation to designate English as the official language, but those efforts failed. The most recent effort was in 2023, when Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and JD Vance (R-OH) introduced the English Language Unity Act. Vance is now vice president.

How many countries have official languages?

It is estimated that more than 170 countries have an official language, with some having more than one language.

Mexico does not have an official language. In Canada, the official languages are English and French. According to Canada’s Official Languages Act of 1969, the purpose of designating two languages ensures “the equality of status” and protecting linguistic minorities “while taking into account the fact that they have different needs.”