Instructions for Attorneys / Legal Assistants

ICE’s detention standards require that facilities generally provide certain language assistance—at times including professional oral interpretation and written translations—to detained individuals who have limited English proficiency and seek to use detention law libraries and/or medical care. A coalition of advocates is investigating the extent to which detention centers adequately provide these language access services. As part of this effort, the Immigration Justice Clinic at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (the “Clinic”) is collecting information on whether and how detention facilities are implementing ICE’s detention standards in this respect. The information that the Clinic collects will be used to support the coalition’s advocacy and in a published report on these issues. Your assistance is critical and much appreciated.
 
To aid in this investigation, we ask that, during visits with detained individuals who have limited English proficiency, you help them fill out this survey about their experience attempting to access language assistance at the facility law library and in relation to medical services.
 
For any detained person who has limited English proficiency: please ask that person the questions this survey and indicate their responses.
 
If the detained person has NOT tried to request language assistance at the law library or for medical services, but intends to do so and would like to share their experience with us: please both fill out the relevant parts of this online survey and also give them a copy of the form labeled Exhibit B in their best language.  Please explain that they can (a) fill it out as soon as they request language assistance and (b) document the response they receive from the facility using the form.
Exhibit B is available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Creole, Wolof, Punjabi, Bengali, Russian, Mandarin (simplified), Arabic and French.
  • If you do not have Exhibit B, please contact the Clinic at languageacccess@yu.edu to request a copy.
  • Please (1) collect these form(s) at your next visit if possible or (2) give the detained person a prepaid, pre-addressed envelope and explain how to mail the form.
  • If the detained person is unable to read or fill out the form, please explain the content of the form during your visit and either (1) explain how they could ask another detained person to help fill out the form to submit via mail if they feel comfortable or (2) follow up with them on a future visit, if possible.

Thank you for your help! Please contact the Clinic if you have any questions at: languageaccess@yu.edu.

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