The Attack on Multilingual Learners: A National Crisis under Trump
And what you can do today about it.
Emboldened by sweeping executive orders and fervent political rallying by President Trump, politicians across the country are launching coordinated attacks on immigrant students and English Language Learners (ELLs), attempting to strip them of their right to education. From Tennessee to Kansas, the message is clear: extremist lawmakers are willing to sacrifice students' futures for political gain.
Tennessee is advancing a bill that would allow school districts to deny undocumented children access to public schools—a direct challenge to Plyler v. Doe, the 1982 Supreme Court ruling that guarantees every child, regardless of immigration status, the right to an education. Meanwhile, in Kansas, Senate Bill 254 threatens to revoke in-state tuition for undocumented students, blocking their paths to higher education and depriving the state of vital talent.
Now, another devastating blow may be underway: reports suggest that the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) has been significantly reduced or eliminated within the U.S. Department of Education, gutting federal support for millions of multilingual learners. Read on for what you can do now to help hold the line for students nationwide.
Tennessee’s Attack on K-12 Education
The Tennessee bill, championed by Sen. Bo Watson and Rep. William Lamberth, would permit school districts to verify a student’s immigration status and deny enrollment if they are undocumented. This is a direct attempt to overturn Plyler v. Doe, a ruling that has protected millions of students for over 40 years.
Lamberth audaciously claimed that undocumented children don’t need an education because they “cannot be lawfully employed” as adults. This statement is not only cruel but also fundamentally false. Many undocumented youth gain legal status, contribute to their communities, and bolster our workforce. Beyond preparation for employment, education is a universal human right, recognized by the United Nations as a fundamental need essential to personal freedom, societal progress, and democracy. Denying any child access to education is not just an economic miscalculation—it is a direct violation of human dignity and justice.
Moreover, targeting undocumented students under the guise of budget relief is misleading. Seventy percent of multilingual learners in U.S. schools are American citizens. Denying education to undocumented students will not result in the budgetary savings some Republicans anticipate; instead, it will harm communities and economies by withholding education from those who need it most.
Kansas: A Battle Over Higher Education Access
While Tennessee targets K-12 students, Kansas is assaulting higher education. SB 254 seeks to eliminate in-state tuition for undocumented students, a policy that has been in place for 20 years. The Kansas Legislature originally passed in-state tuition for undocumented students in 2004, recognizing that investing in students benefits the entire state. Now, extremists aim to undo that progress.
At a recent hearing, RevEd’s Christy Moreno testified against SB 254, stating:
“Now is not the time to go back and strip brilliant and talented high school graduates of their access to resident tuition rates. On the contrary, it is time to reaffirm our commitment to professional advancement, economic success, and the development of the strong and educated workforce Kansas needs.”
The data supports her stance. Undocumented students who graduate from Kansas universities contribute significantly to the economy. Cutting them off from affordable tuition would not only harm those students but also weaken the state’s workforce, particularly in fields facing shortages like healthcare, technology, and education.
Melanie Arroyo, a licensed professional counselor in Kansas, shared her personal experience in an op-ed opposing SB 254:
“I would not be an art therapist and clinical counselor today if the state had denied me in-state tuition based on my immigration status. My testimonial is solid proof that this bill will hurt our already struggling universities and students, and our larger economy.”
If SB 254 passes, Kansas risks losing the very students who could drive its future success.
The Silent Dismantling of OELA
While states are advancing harmful policies targeting undocumented students who are multilingual learners, the federal government appears to be taking an equally dangerous step: based on media reports and documents shared by internal staff, the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) may have been significantly reduced or eliminated.
On March 11th, the U.S. Department of Education laid off nearly 50% of its staff, and there are reports that OELA—responsible for administering Title III grants that support English learners—was dismantled, with employees either fired or reassigned. Additionally, the International Education and Foreign Language Studies office in the Office of Postsecondary Education is reported to have been eliminated.
This unprecedented move could strip critical federal support from millions of students and violates statutory requirements, as these offices were authorized by Congress. Lawsuits are expected, and advocacy groups are preparing to challenge this decision. But right now, we need immediate action to demand Congress reverse this attack on English learners.
Why This Matters
English learners already face systemic barriers in education—lack of access to bilingual teachers, inadequate funding, and now, deliberate policy attacks at both state and federal levels. If OELA has been eliminated, this is not just a bureaucratic shift; it is a direct assault on the civil rights of millions of students who rely on these programs for academic success.
Meanwhile, education systems around the world are investing in innovation, strengthening bilingual education, and preparing their multilingual students to compete in a global economy. Yet here in the United States, under President Trump, we are stuck debating whether these students even deserve access to the classroom. Instead of harnessing the deep talent and cultural wealth that multilingual students bring to our schools, we are watching leaders dismantle the very programs designed to support them—sabotaging our nation’s future in the process.
How We Fight Back: Contact Congress NOW
We cannot allow politicians to dismantle decades of progress. It is all hands on deck to preserve key language education functions of the Department of Education.
Here’s how you can help: Contact your Senators and Representatives to demand they intervene and restore OELA. Action is needed TODAY - the Senate will be voting on the FY25 budget tomorrow. We need Democrats to hold the line.
Use this link to send a letter to Congress:
Education is a right, not a privilege. Tennessee, Kansas, and now even the federal government must hear us loud and clear: we will not stand by while extremist politicians try to strip our students of their future.
-Tricia McGhee, Director of Communications RevED & LEC