ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 13404Executive OrderG.W. Bush · R

Executive Order 13404

Task Force on New Americans

This executive order establishes a Task Force on New Americans within the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate federal efforts helping legal immigrants learn English, civics, and history to integrate into American society. The Task Force includes cabinet-level officials from multiple departments and is directed to promote public-private partnerships, expand instruction through community groups, and make recommendations on policy and legislative changes.

Federal Register Open PDF 71 FR 33593

Impact dates

  1. Secretary shall immediately establish Task Force on New Americans

Key directives

  • Secretary of Homeland Security shall immediately establish Task Force on New Americans
  • Task Force limited to members at Assistant Secretary level or equivalent
  • Secretary shall convene and preside at meetings, direct work, establish subgroups
  • Secretary shall designate Executive Secretary to head staff
  • Provide direction to agencies on integration of legal immigrants through English, civics, and history instruction
  • Promote public-private partnerships for businesses to offer English and civics education to workers
  • Identify ways to expand English and civics instruction through faith-based, community, and other groups
  • Identify ways to promote volunteer community service
  • Make recommendations to President on inter-agency cooperation, federal-state-local cooperation, regulatory/policy changes, and proposed legislation

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Secretary of Homeland Security shall immediately establish the Task Force
  • Secretary to designate Executive Secretary and assign staff

Near term (90d)

  • Task Force to begin providing direction to agencies on immigrant integration
  • Initial identification of ways to expand English and civics instruction

Long term

  • Ongoing recommendations to President on policy changes and proposed legislation
  • Sustained public-private partnership development for worker education

Risks & tensions

  • No dedicated funding appropriation; implementation 'subject to availability of appropriations' creates uncertainty
  • Task Force recommendations are advisory only with no enforcement mechanism for agencies
  • Vague 'from time to time' language for recommendations lacks predictable reporting cadence
  • Potential tension between federal coordination and state/local authority over education policy
  • Faith-based partnership language may raise establishment clause concerns depending on implementation
Executive Order 13404: Task Force on New Americans · Executive Orders