A new federal civil rights complaint filed by RFKHR in tandem with other rights groups alleges widespread denial of interpreter and translation services to individuals detained in a Louisiana immigration facility.

This lack of access has serious consequences for these individuals, who cannot adequately prepare for their immigration cases, understand crucial legal and medical documents, or advocate for themselves when faced with additional penalties within the facility.

RFKHR Staff Attorney Sarah Decker spoke with Verite News about the lack of language access at Winn Correctional Center, a Louisiana immigration detention facility. “What has resulted in Winn, as one of the largest facilities in the region, is that they just simply don’t have the structure to support people who are non-English speakers,” Decker said.