SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- The Asian immigrant was described as speaking in "halting English" even after 20 years of living in the United States. The reporter of the Central California newspaper seemed to suggest that 20 years of living in the country should have resulted in a strong command of the language. It's difficult to speculate about the reporter's linguistic ability, but like many Americans, it probably included just the language in which the article was written.
Had the reporter had any solid experience with learning languages, it would have become clear that some people never manage to learn certain aspects of English in spite of spending several decades in the U.S.
Take English pronunciation, for example. It's very difficult and unless one starts learning English at a very early age, one will always retain some form of foreign accent. My brother began learning English at age 22. You can cut his Italian accent with a knife. Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger will take his German accent to his grave.