Translation is hard for asylum-seekers. Trump is making it harder.

In mid-August, ICE detained Elias Gonzales in East Oakland, where he remained for two months at a Tacoma detention facility, suffering trauma and isolation due to a lack of language support. Gonzales, who speaks an indigenous Mayan language and has hearing difficulties, faced significant barriers in understanding legal documents and procedures. His family's private attorney conducted consultations in Spanish, overlooking Gonzales's needs and resulting in a poorly articulated asylum application. This case underscores the broader issue of language access for immigrants, exacerbated under the Trump administration, which has rolled back resources for translation services. Despite immigration judges in San Francisco still offering some resources, organizations face overwhelming caseloads and budget cuts.

Gonzales was released on October 28 after a successful habeas petition filed by his attorney, but he must contend with the challenges of a flawed asylum application. Sullivan Engen pointed out that when asylum seekers cannot fully express themselves, it risks their cases significantly. The situation calls for urgent reforms in language access to ensure fair legal representation for immigrants.