Pertierra said a 1986 federal law supplies precedent to require completion ofa civics component -- such as basic knowledgeofEnglish and U.S. history and government -- to grant permanent resident status.
In a region with shocking levels of unemployment and lots of young people, knowledgeofEnglish means the power to get a better job, or perhaps to emigrate.
However, it is not clear how this new system will ensure a breadth ofknowledge and skills and that pupils continue studying English and maths until age 18.
For those with poor English and little knowledgeof how the British labour market works, exploitation by a gangmaster is better than no exploitation at all.
English certainly helps forge strong bonds across cultures, but knowledgeof the local language makes a global workforce more nimble and productive, and therefore more competitive.