IMMDEF IN THE NEWS: Feds Mandate Contracted Translators For Asylum Interviews

Our Legal Services Director, Yliana Johansen-Mendez, shared her concerns about Department of Homeland Security's new move to require that asylum seekers use government contracted translators. 

"There were times when the Spanish interpreter was hindering my ability to conduct the interview and I would stop the interview, hang up and call back to request a different interpreter… If an applicant cannot provide their own interpreter, and the officer and attorney do not speak the applicant's native language (as is often the case), then there will be no method by which to do quality control of the interpretation. This change in USCIS policy denies them that safety net," she said.

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