Dark Half was right. That's why it was called de facto. It means acting or existing in fact but without legal sanction. I never stated it was the official Federal language because it doesn't exist yet. About 30 States recognize the English language but presently, it is growing and of course, due to ongoing lawsuits. As US citizens, we do have to follow the State laws as well wherever we reside. Read XIV Amendment. New immigrants still have to take ESL (english second language), the American history, and Civic classes. I speak from family members experiences. Also, My parents are from different countries and had to learn the English language.
In the American history, President John Adams proposed to establish an official English language, but the Continental Congress rejected it because it would be great threat to individual liberties. I am sure we all know what President Teddy Roosevelt said about the English language. If he were alive today, he'll go insane.
The U.S. is not the only one who can deal with the immigration problems. Every country deal with same problems. Mexico have harsher laws than the American laws. Do you know what they are doing to illegal immigrants when they enter Mexico illegal from El Salvador, Belize, etc. They dump them in the prisons and are never heard again. We have seen simliar situations with the Americans when they came to Baja CA from San Diego for a visit. UK has far worse immigration problems than here. A friend of mine is half English and told me all about the stories like Middle Easterns, Africans, and new immigrants living in UK and don't even speak English. That's why UK is so expensive, especially high taxes. UK doesn't recognize the English language. Indeed, it is de facto. She is extremely frustrated with what's going on with immigration problems in UK even though she speaks French, Catalan Spanish, and her native English language.
My Canadian ex-boyfriend loathes official French-speaking Quebec, because Quebec tried to separate itself from Canada and become a country. He even mentioned that Quebecois even shouldn't speak French language because he and his Canadian friends barely speak French. They even like to make fun of it. I've had been listening to his Canadian friends and they are extremely bitter toward Quebec, blaming them for raising taxes.
The English language is also an official language of India, the Philippines, and many African countries.
I am disappointed that the American government wants to raise immigrant fees again, which makes it harder for any new immigrant and refugee to enter the country for better life.
I recently watched the Democractic presidential candidates debate last night. CNN Wolf Blitzer asked the candidates if they supported making English the official language. Not a single one of them supports making English the official language, except former-Alaska Governor Mike Gravel.
Nobody wants to solve the immigration problems. It is a lost cause.