Latino members of Congress are urging the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to waive an internal policy that requires their congressional offices to provide certified translations of non-English documents filed on behalf of immigrant constituents, according to a letter obtained by sources.
In the letter, congressional offices highlighted their role in assisting constituents with various immigration-related issues, including status updates, expedited processing for citizenship cases, DACA renewals, and permanent resident cards. Representative Robert Garcia, D-Calif., who led the effort, emphasized that the majority of immigrants his office assists primarily speak Spanish. Consequently, his staff spends significant time translating Spanish-language documents into English before submitting them to USCIS, in compliance with its current internal policy.
Garcia expressed concerns that this requirement impedes their ability to assist more individuals, creating a significant barrier for those navigating the immigration system. He emphasized the need for USCIS to handle the translation process internally, rather than relying on congressional offices as intermediaries.
In a letter addressed to USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou, members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus advocated for USCIS officials to handle document translations internally. They argued that utilizing the language skills of USCIS staff would enhance accuracy, alleviate burdens on constituents, and save congressional staff valuable time.
The letter underscored the prevalence of limited English proficiency among U.S. residents, with over 25 million people, or approximately 9% of the population, facing language barriers. Of these individuals, more than 16 million primarily speak Spanish.
For Representative Garcia, the issue holds personal significance. Having immigrated from Peru as a child and later becoming a U.S. citizen, he experienced firsthand the challenges of navigating the immigration system as a Spanish-speaking individual. Garcia stressed the importance of addressing this issue as part of broader discussions on immigration policy, highlighting the federal government’s responsibility to support Spanish-speaking communities in navigating the immigration process.
