Border Patrol to stop interpreting for local police
SEATTLE (AP) - U.S. Border Patrol agents will no longer serve as interpreters when local law enforcement agencies request language help, according to a new decree issued by the Department of Homeland Security.
The new guidance said agents should refer such requests to private services often used by government agencies.
Seeking language help is a common practice among local law enforcement agencies in Washington state. If a person is pulled over and can only speak Spanish, the U.S. Border Patrol is often called.
However, immigration advocates complain that Border Patrol agents ask people questions about immigration and in some cases arrest immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally.
"The concept of language access should be without people being questioned about their immigration status," said Jorge Baron, executive director of the Seattle-based Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, a legal aid organization.
Immigrants have grown apprehensive about calling local law enforcement agencies if they knew the Border Patrol is going to respond, he said.
The new Border Patrol guidance should help, even though it leaves agents some room for decision-making, he said.
The Border Patrol said Thursday it is trying to use its resources efficiently.
"The new guidance related to requests for translation services helps further focus CBP efforts on its primary mission to secure our nation's borders." a statement by Customs and Border Protection said. "CBP remains committed to assisting our law enforcement partners in their enforcement efforts."
The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project sent a letter in May to the Department of Justice and Homeland Security saying the interpreting practice violated the Civil Rights Act.
The letter included dashboard camera video in which a Border Patrol agent is heard using a derogatory term for illegal immigrants.
After the Sept. 11 attacks, President George W. Bush ordered U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which oversees the Border Patrol, to beef up its presence on the U.S.-Canada border, which is almost twice as long as the U.S.-Mexico border.
In 2007, the northern border had about 1,100 agents. Now it has more than 2,200. In the same period, the number of agents in the Blaine sector, which covers the border west of the Cascades, went from 133 to 331.
Along with providing language services, Border Patrol agents often assist local law agencies that are short on personnel and equipment. In addition, highway checkpoints have been implemented.
The American Civil Liberties Union and Northwest Immigrant Rights Project filed a lawsuit earlier this year seeking to bar Border Patrol agents from doing traffic stops on the Olympic Peninsula, claiming people were being pulled over and questioned over the way they look and without reasonable suspicion. The lawsuit is pending.
The Border Patrol has denied any discrimination.
The new guidance said agents should refer such requests to private services often used by government agencies.
Seeking language help is a common practice among local law enforcement agencies in Washington state. If a person is pulled over and can only speak Spanish, the U.S. Border Patrol is often called.
However, immigration advocates complain that Border Patrol agents ask people questions about immigration and in some cases arrest immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally.
"The concept of language access should be without people being questioned about their immigration status," said Jorge Baron, executive director of the Seattle-based Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, a legal aid organization.
Immigrants have grown apprehensive about calling local law enforcement agencies if they knew the Border Patrol is going to respond, he said.
The new Border Patrol guidance should help, even though it leaves agents some room for decision-making, he said.
The Border Patrol said Thursday it is trying to use its resources efficiently.
"The new guidance related to requests for translation services helps further focus CBP efforts on its primary mission to secure our nation's borders." a statement by Customs and Border Protection said. "CBP remains committed to assisting our law enforcement partners in their enforcement efforts."
The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project sent a letter in May to the Department of Justice and Homeland Security saying the interpreting practice violated the Civil Rights Act.
The letter included dashboard camera video in which a Border Patrol agent is heard using a derogatory term for illegal immigrants.
After the Sept. 11 attacks, President George W. Bush ordered U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which oversees the Border Patrol, to beef up its presence on the U.S.-Canada border, which is almost twice as long as the U.S.-Mexico border.
In 2007, the northern border had about 1,100 agents. Now it has more than 2,200. In the same period, the number of agents in the Blaine sector, which covers the border west of the Cascades, went from 133 to 331.
Along with providing language services, Border Patrol agents often assist local law agencies that are short on personnel and equipment. In addition, highway checkpoints have been implemented.
The American Civil Liberties Union and Northwest Immigrant Rights Project filed a lawsuit earlier this year seeking to bar Border Patrol agents from doing traffic stops on the Olympic Peninsula, claiming people were being pulled over and questioned over the way they look and without reasonable suspicion. The lawsuit is pending.
The Border Patrol has denied any discrimination.
If you're tired of this crap, join http://www.fairus.org/ or similar groups that want to stop illegal immigration.
Using the language line is cumbersome, time consuming and frustrating. I have another idea. How about funding for Officers to learn languages, with Spanish as a priority.Â
 @ButtercupSprinkles How bout shipping all the illegals back to from which they came, then we wouldn't have to worry about language and we could save a few Billion for ourselves. The idea of a Border Patrol is to patrol the Boarder and look for illegals. Having them do their job ?? What a concept !!
Not everyone that lives here and does not speak English is an illegal immigrant. I encounter many non-English speakers that are in the U.S. legally. I'm talking about training local LEOs in languages so that they can do their jobs more efficiently. Not to mention, actually rounding up and deporting all illegal aliens, from various countries and continents, is never going to happen. So, might as well find a way for local LE to cope with the incidents that will continue to happen everyday.
 @ButtercupSprinkles Mis spell.. " border not boarder /
Yep, and you sound just like Ben Franklin when he warned about the colonies being "germanized", or the people who didn't want the Irish here in the nineteenth century, or the italians in the twentieth century. Here in the 21st century it's the same story different ethnicity.
@virtual anomaly If I were to go back to where I came from where might that be? I was born in this country and so were my parents, and their parents. Somewhere someone immigrated here which brought this about, but as far as I'm concerned I am where I'm supposed to be.
And if we really stopped all illegal immigration right now we wouldn't save squat, it would probably send us into an even deeper recession. Are you gonna pick oranges for $5 an hour?
@lmdk2 @ButtercupSprinkles How about we all go back to from which we came too? Or are you a Native American?
"However, immigration advocates complain that Border Patrol agents ask people questions about immigration and in some cases arrest immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally."
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Yeah, shame on them for doing their job.
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"Immigrants have grown apprehensive about calling local law enforcement agencies if they knew the Border Patrol is going to respond, he said."
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Thats because they know they are not suppose to be here.
I cannot see the benefit of this new rule to any law abiding citizen.
 @memory9 It saves a ton of money! Private interpreters are way cheaper.
And many college professors will be happy now...they will also get to continue not having to notice the criminals hiding here illegally or domestic violence within the demographic or auto accidents caused by uninsured illegal immigrants or the drug dealers among them. But they will be happy.Â
@Citizen#3457899654 You're right, sounds like we need a path to citizenship to take care of all those problems.
@virtual anomaly I believe that we DO have a path to citizenship. It's called "Naturalization". It's when a person of foreign origin applies for US citizenship, not when they cross the borders illegally.
What language do the Seattle Police speak?
Learn English or Go Home. Â That's how Australia deals with illegals, and immigrants. Â Why should WE U.S.A TAX payers have to pay to accommodate total drains on our resources. Â
"drains our resources"
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Studies have shown extensively that the US economy benefits significantly from the cheap labor provided by the illegal immigrants.
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It's funny you should mention Australia as the model though, since they are a product of European imperialism as well.
virtual anomaly wrote: "Studies have shown extensively that the US economy benefits significantly from the cheap labor provided by the illegal immigrants."Â
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This just in:Â "California, which is home to the nation's largest population of illegal immigrants, spent an estimated $1.2 billion last year through Medicaid to care for 822,500 illegal immigrants."
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I'm sorry, what were you saying about illegal immigrants saving us money, virt?
"I don't need to provide the evidence"
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Sure you do, if you want anyone to take you seriously.
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You won't provide any evidence because you don't have any.
"I guess that when African-Americans sat in at lunch counters that was "speeding at 100mph too"?"
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No, it wasn't. That question is retarded.
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"Have you EVER broken the law, based on your post I should think not."
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Another retarded question. Only people who never break the law are allowed to support law enforcment? Yikes are you stupid.
And do your own research on the numbers, I don't need to provide the evidence, I've already done the research myself.
I guess that when African-Americans sat in at lunch counters that was "speeding at 100mph too"? Have you EVER broken the law, based on your post I should think not.
And your over-simplification of apples used as an analogy for our agricultural industry, which has huge implications for our economy as a whole, shows incredible ignorance.
@wayne0021 So you believe that ALL laws are just and should be complied with? I'll remember that about you Wayne0021...
Even if true (and you haven't provided any evidence), it doesn't matter if the billions in benefits outweigh the billions in costs. Laws should be enforced.
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Speeding at 100 mph has benefits of getting to your destination quicker. And we could spend all day debating about the costs vs. the benefits. But I don't care if the final answer is that the benefits of speeding slightly outweigh the costs. Laws are laws. Speeders should be punished for breaking our laws.
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Likewise, illegal immigrants should be punished (certainly not REWARDED with benefits and free education and drivers licenses and in-state tuition etc etc) for breaking our laws.
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And I don't give a rat's ass if the apples rot on the ground. I'd rather live in a society with expensive apples, laws enforced, and zero illegal immigrants than cheap apples, laws ignored, and millions of illegal immigrants.
@wayne0021
And the agricultural industry which makes billions (yes plural) from those illegal immigrants wouldn't survive a day without them. And of course these illegal immigrants spend a large chunk of their money here in the US, further contributing to our economy.
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Yes, studies take your numbers into account, along with law enforcement cost, unpaid emergency room visits, and many other expenses you haven't thought about. They all come up with the same thing (even though specific numbers vary) WE BENEFIT ECONOMICALLY FROM ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
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Why do you think politicians haven't done anything about illegal immigration? Despite the fact that most Americans would like them to. That includes Bush (republican) and Obama (democrat). Could it be that business owners know that they will be devastated by stopping the flow of illegal immigrants, or economists who say the same thing?
 @virtual anomaly yeah that's why states like Arizona are welcoming them with open arms because of the economic benefits the illegals provide their state.  Our state gives illegals drivers licenses and basically encourages it.Â
Australia's prime minister said last year get out of our country if you don't like speaking english, or our culture. Â Â As a tax that contributed $100k+ in taxes last year I'm sick of all the free loading illegals. Â I don't see or feel any economic benefits to your statements. Â
Additionally it's just wrong. Plus your "Studies" don't really back anything up with an actual study. Â Probably just a lie that Obama or Inslee said on the campaign trail. Nice try...
@Coyote Take a look at some recent numbers, immigrants aren't going to Cali anymore. Midwest and deep south instead.
UCLA and Berkley? Two schools in a state that is overrun by illegals. And what a wonderful financial situation THAT state is in.
@CB No they are studies from UCLA and Berkeley to name a couple. Do you really think that our agricultural industry could survive with American Citizens as the only labor force? Or the meat packing industry? And of course the hotel industry?Â
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Those are not jobs that spoiled Americans are gonna work for minimum wage, especially when they know that they can sit at home and collect a check.
Um so let me understand this if I go to Mexico I can't expect to get a translater. Â Here's a novel thought Learn English. Its not our job to accomadate Make english the national language. Â
 @Terina Owen You want English to become the national language and yet you can't even perform correct grammer.
I want English to become the national language, and I employ excellent grammar. So what cute response will you make now?
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Oh, btw, it's "grammar," not "grammer."Â Simp.
"The concept of language access should be without people being questioned about their immigration status," said Jorge Baron, executive director of the Seattle-based Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, a legal aid organization.
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So, when you're pulled over for a burned out tail light, the police shouldn't concern themselves about you drinking? Is that what your saying?
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And this is being pushed from the top down. My great grand parents spent years trying to get approval to come here. If they come here with out the proper pomision then send them home. It is that simple. Do not break the law and there will be no problems.
No, no..Mr. Peter no home.
 @jelisized No, no ...I stay
Spanish? What aboot our Canadian problem, eh?
If you're tired of this crap, join http://www.fairus.org/ or similar groups that want to stop illegal immigration.
Well of course! We wouldn't want anyone enforcing our laws!
Que?
There shouldn't be interpreters. Â
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You can't speak my language? Â Hit the road criminal, back to the country of origin.
 @TJM Graduates of Seattle schools can't speak the English language. What country would accept them?
 @TJM The US has no official language, I bet you didn't know that did you? So everything you said makes no senseÂ
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 @Larry*X*K True that the US does not have an official language, but it should! The official language should be Americanized English and ALL governmental papers should be printed in that official language and NONE OTHER. This BS about giving driver licensing tests in other languages, printing voters pamphlets in other languages and on is a means to keep divisions in place rather than melding the population.
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As recent as sixty years ago when people came to this country one of the first things they did was learn to speak English. Maybe they didn't always do a wonderful job of it but at least they tried. Today's immigrants, legal or otherwise, expect those of us that were born here to learn THEIR language. Would they do the same if we emigrated to their country?
 @TJM Thats like telling every tourist that comes to US from another country to piss off because they can't understand English.
 @3rase   Tourists leave.
 @Melissa Angevine  @3rase Not always. Some of them disappear into the general population and stay here for years.
 @Melissa Angevine  @3rase They also have passports.