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| JuanCamilo Parrado |
“Hola, como esta?” says JuanCamilo Parrado, shortly after 8:30 a.m. on a recent Tuesday, standing before about 30 people — mostly couples, a few parents with young children — in a spartan government waiting room outside immigration court on the 15th floor of 55 E. Monroe. “Español? Si?”
Having said hello, asked how everybody is doing — struggling to navigate a labyrinthine legal system in a new country in a language most only barely comprehend, thank you very much — and whether they speak Spanish, Parrado, a managing attorney at the National Immigrant Justice Center, uses that language to get down to business: informing them of their rights, as immigrants. To a hearing, to a lawyer at no expense to themselves, the chance to cross examination witnesses. To file an appeal.
Though those rights have a way of colliding with reality.
Around the corner, for instance, in Judge Gina Reynolds’ courtroom, immigrant Aslan Usmanov is waiting for the 9 a.m. hearing that he has a right to. But another right — to an interpreter — is proving difficult to fulfill.
“What language are you holding for?” a disembodied voice asks from some kind of dial-in translation service.
“Russian,” Reynolds says.
“At this moment, we don’t have a Russian interpreter available,” the voice replies.
The court system claims it is prepared to handle some 300 languages, with “in-person, video remote (Webex) and telephonic interpretation services,” though some languages are translated more readily than others.
“They’re pretty good about it, though when it comes to finding the right dialect, it can be a real challenge,” said Mark L. Adkison, a lawyer with Adkison Law Offices, a family firm exclusively handling immigration work. “Creole and Yeruba can be tricky.”
Reynolds shifts to the Spanish speakers in the courtroom — a pair of Venezuelan immigrants — and hears their cases while the Russian interpreter is tracked down. The judge is methodical, calm and painstaking.
“If anyone has trouble with the earphones, let us know right away because everyone should understand everything being said,” Reynolds explains.
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Very interesting. Though you'd think it wouldn't be that hard to find a Russian speaker.
ReplyDeleteKimball responded exactly the same way in 1989 when he first became aware of the legal problems facing people with HIV and AIDS. He became the first board president of the new AIDS Legal Council of Chicago and has stayed involved ever since . There's a reason he's won every pro bono award in the state.
ReplyDeleteMy friend works as a remote translator. She makes herself available to work according to her schedule. Sometimes her client is someone in the court system The court does not have an extensive staff of translators on payroll though many people are bilingual and can serve this purpose. Often the respondent will bring a translator. Many times a family member or friend. Your best bet is while awaiting your appearance learn English . If your granted the opportunity to remain in the US, not a right, it will be helpful to find a job , further your education or navigate the possibility of becoming a citizen.
ReplyDeleteI have empathy for immigrants caught up in circumstances often thrust upon them and great admiration for people volunteering their time to help some of them work their way through this maze.
Wishing you a happy and healthy new year
Thanks for metioning a key point that the immigration system has been broken for awhile. Seems like the hard right wants to keep it broken. They torpedoed the bipartisan 2103 reform bill and then DACA.
ReplyDeleteEmployers of undocumented workers do not face consequnces. Having the threat of invading foreigners taking over fits the nationalist storyline.
It's too bad that the current migrant crisis makes any reform more difficult.
A complex, important topic deftly handled by our intrepid EGD host, as usual. Given a generous 2-page spread in the paper.
ReplyDeleteThe photos are fine, but I often wonder, if I may ask -- what determines whether you're accompanied by a staff photographer, or not?
The photos are meh, in my opinion, but I didn't bring along a photographer — it's my call — because I was uncertain what exactly I'd be seeing, and wanted to focus on figuring that out.
DeleteWell, it doesn't seem like a particularly photogenic situation; that was likely a good call. Thanks for the reply, NS.
DeleteI can’t understand the heartlessness of this situation. Without proper clothing or shelter, these people will die. The politicians sending them are literally leading them on a trail of tears. I understand that there is an overwhelming situation in their state. Hate and evil forced bussing without accommodations is no way to behave. Why can’t the governor answer the simple question of what would Jesus do? I wonder that of many evangelicals in this nation.
ReplyDelete