Border Patrol Takes First Step Towards New Translation Policy

 

The US Customs and Border Protection, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, recently announced a new policy that states if another law enforcement agency requests language translation assistance, the requests will be deferred to local or national translation services. 

The former policy became a source of contention between Border Patrol and the Spanish speaking population, when border agents would respond for the purposes of language assistance. 

Questions and concerns were directed to a panel led by Kareema Shora, with the Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights. 

Shora urged audience member who had grievances to file them with the Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.

Lesley Hoare of the Forks Human Rights Group and many others explained the undercurrent of fear due to the Border Patrol’s presence on the West End.

“This is a good step, but we’re still struggling with that [fear]. How do we start to tell people there can be trust?” Hoare said.

The full story on the new translation laws and Border Patrol can be found on Peninsula Daily News at the following link; http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20130207/news/302079998/border-patrol-8217-s-new-translation-policy-called-good-first-step