The Intersection of Language Policy and Immigration Law

Ahairwe Frank

Faculty of Business Administration and Management Kampala International University Uganda

Email: ahairwefrank56@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

This paper explores the critical intersection of language policy and immigration law, analyzing how language requirements and practices influence immigrant integration, social mobility, and legal inclusion. Historically, language has functioned both as a mechanism of assimilation and a tool of exclusion, particularly in U.S. immigration frameworks where English has been privileged as a gatekeeping tool in naturalization and citizenship processes. Drawing comparisons with countries like Canada and Australia, the study reveals varying degrees of accommodation or restriction in host country language policies. It also examines the legal, educational, and socio-economic consequences faced by immigrants with limited English proficiency (LEP). Through case studies and legal analysis, the paper highlights how language policies reflect deeper ideological commitments to national identity, and how inclusive language strategies can promote civic participation, social cohesion, and economic integration. Ultimately, the research calls for a reassessment of language mandates in immigration systems, advocating for more inclusive and pluralistic language policies in increasingly multilingual societies.

Keywords: Language policy, immigration law, integration, limited English proficiency (LEP), bilingualism, naturalization, multiculturalism.

CITE AS: Ahairwe Frank (2025). The Intersection of Language Policy and Immigration Law. NEWPORT INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN EDUCATION 5(2):52-57 https://doi.org/10.59298/NIJRE/2025/525257