The Trump administration has instructed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to discontinue providing language translation services for individuals seeking information about their immigration, employment status, or benefits. This move aligns with the president’s executive order from March 1, which established English as the official language of the United States. As a result, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has been directed to cancel its contract with a translation service provider, according to a report by Government Executive.
The translation service had been made available to migrants who contacted the department to inquire about their status in government programs like E-Verify. The new directive also mandates that agency call center workers disconnect any call from individuals who are unable to communicate their needs in English. Formal guidelines on this change are expected to be released soon, as stated by the administration.
The termination of the contract with Legal Interpreting Services, Inc. is part of a broader review of government contracts by the administration. The USCIS translation service was set to cost around $587,000 under a contract awarded in 2022. Additionally, DHS holds a larger contract with Legal Interpreting Services valued at about $3.6 million, though it remains unclear if this service will also face cancellation across other government agencies.
USCIS has not yet issued any public comments regarding the end of its translation services. Advocates for immigrants, particularly those without legal status, argue that the cancellation of these services will create additional challenges for migrants.
“Lack of interpretation services will only make it harder for many workers and families whose dominant language is not English from being able to correct immigration status errors in these databases,” said Adriel Orozco, a representative from the American Immigration Council. “This risks people being wrongly denied benefits or being unfairly terminated from their jobs.”
This decision comes shortly after the president signed an executive order in March designating English as the official language of the United States, a move that many advocates had pushed for over the years.
“A nationally designated language is at the core of a unified and cohesive society, and the United States is strengthened by a citizenry that can freely exchange ideas in one shared language,” the order states.
The executive order also emphasized that “new Americans” should be “encouraged” to learn English “to achieve the American dream.”
“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,” the order further noted.
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