Some claim that speaking Spanish in the US will earn you a fine or even a prison sentence, as part of a measure known as ‘La Ley del Silencio Hispanico’, or ‘The Law of Hispanic Silence’.
A series of posts on social media allege that President Donald Trump has announced fines and prison sentences for people who speak Spanish in the US.
A video published on TikTok says that Trump has completely banned Spanish and that only English can be spoken in the US.
It says that people caught speaking Spanish will receive a $5,000 (€4,600) fine or could even end up in prison, and that Trump has threatened to deport anyone who doesn’t like the new rules.
The video has amassed more than 50,000 likes as of the time of this report, and many other social media posts have similarly alleged that Trump has banned Spanish.
Another video on X says that immigrants will be automatically arrested and thrown out of the country or receive a $2,000 fine if they are caught speaking Spanish in public places.
It says that the measure is known as “La Ley del Silencio Hispano”, or “The Law of Hispanic Silence”.
However, this is false — there has been no official announcement about a Spanish ban, and no reputable news outlets have reported it as fact.
The most likely source of the false claims is the executive order that Trump signed on 1 March, which established English as the official federal language of the US.
Up until now, English had been the country’s de facto language as the vast majority of residents spoke it.
The executive order means that government agencies can choose whether to offer documents and services in languages other than English.
It also revokes a policy that obliged these agencies to provide language assistance to non-English speakers, brought in under President Bill Clinton in 2000.
“Establishing English as the official language will not only streamline communication but also reinforce shared national values, and create a more cohesive and efficient society,” according to the order.
“In welcoming new Americans, a policy of encouraging the learning and adoption of our national language will make the United States a shared home and empower new citizens to achieve the American dream,” the order continues. “Speaking English not only opens doors economically, but it helps newcomers engage in their communities, participate in national traditions, and give back to our society.”
According to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, an official language is what is used by the government to conduct official, day-to-day business.
Having one or more official languages can help define a nation’s character and the cultural identity of those who live in it.
Prioritising one language may place certain people in a position of power and exclude others whose language is not recognised, according to the institute.
US English, a group that advocates for making English the official language in the United States, believes having an official language provides a common means of communication, encourages immigrants to learn English to use government services and “defines a much-needed common sense language policy”.
More than 30 states, from California to New Hampshire, as well as the US Virgin Islands, have already passed laws designating English as their official language, according to US English. Hawaii is the only state to declare two official languages, English and Hawaiian.
For decades, lawmakers in Congress have introduced legislation to designate English as the official language, but those efforts failed.
Regardless, Hispanic advocacy groups have expressed frustration at a separate decision by the White House to take down the Spanish-language version of its website within hours of Trump’s inauguration in January.
It has still not been restored as of the time of writing despite assurances from the White House that it would do so.
Trump shut down the Spanish version of the website during his first term. It was put back online when President Joe Biden was inaugurated in 2021.
The White House did not respond to EuroVerify’s repeated requests for information.
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