[cguess]

This is a hiring issue, not a legal one. The US has no official language, and no language tests, so requiring English in law would be dicey to put it mildly. What if I'm hiring someone specifically to work at a Spanish language news outlet?

[JCTheDenthog]

>What if I'm hiring someone specifically to work at a Spanish language news outlet?

Having actually worked at a Spanish language news outlet before (1 of 4 tv and radio stations in the office I was doing IT help desk work in), I can tell you that every single employee spoke English somewhere on the level of very good to near native fluency. As it turns out, knowing English (or the native language of whatever country you're in) is an incredible value-multiplier for almost every job position imaginable.

As far as language issues at my current job goes, it turns out once you hire a manager that speaks both Hindi and English (or Marathi and English, or Bengali and English, you get the picture) it doesn't matter much if the H1Bs he hires barely speak English because he can just start shouting at them in Hindi if they don't understand (even if several native English speakers are in the meeting too).

[cguess]

Again, this is a hiring issue, not a legal one. You want to make it against the law for your boss to hire bad managers?

[svachalek]

The H-1B visa is specifically for hiring "highly specialized" workers. Lack of the supposed skills that let them across the border is in fact a legal issue.

[bijowo1676]

H1Bs are not hired for their knowledge of english, however you can define it. They are hired for specialized occupational skills

[naturalmovement]

Skills which, with very few exceptions, are conducted in English.

[bijowo1676]

You don’t need to be Shakespeare to do specialized job that’s first

Second most visa applicants already get tested on their English skill when they apply for Visa, for example, universities require English proficiency for F1 visa using GRE exam

And why do you think you are better than an employer in assessing required English proficiency of an employee

[NoMoreNicksLeft]

>for example, universities require English proficiency for F1 visa using GRE exam

Why would the universities fail them on these exams, when it would mean losing out on that sweet, sweet tuition money?

[gmueckl]

But Visa applications need to prove English proficiency already. So it's somehow neither here nor there.

[DANmode]

> This is a hiring issue, not a legal one.

When the law specifically dictates stuff like the talent of the person, I’m not convinced you’re correct.

[JuniperMesos]

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/desi...

[naturalmovement]

EO 14224 designates English as the official language of the US.

[generj]

Which is clearly illegal.

Congress would need to declare any official language(s). Moreover, by treaty and law (NALA of 1990) obligations to Native American tribes there must be more languages than merely English.

[pandaman]

>and no language tests

English test is a requirement for naturalization, which is governed by the same INA, which governs H1B and other visas.