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Indigenous migrants in LA courts face deportation without interpreters

Aug 21, 2026·Location: Los Angeles, CA

Indigenous migrants in LA courts face deportation without interpreters

Indigenous migrants in Los Angeles immigration courts who speak Mixtec, K'iche' or other Indigenous languages are not receiving the translation services they are legally entitled to, according to attorneys and advocates who spoke with LA Public Press. Advocates say the lack of interpreters leaves some individuals unable to understand what immigration judges are asking of them, potentially resulting in prolonged ICE detention or deportation orders accepted without understanding their legal consequences. Nearly 26 million people in the U.S. have limited English proficiency, according to a 2025 federal report cited in the report.

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