DHS updating language to improve access for limited English speakers

Working with interagency partners, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last week upgraded its language access plan, promoting improved access to its programs and activities for those with limited English proficiency.

Helming the effort was the DHS Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), working to bring DHS up to the standards of executive Order 13166, “Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency.” Since the department issued its first Language Access Plan in 2012, DHS has added an online portal for filing allegations of civil rights and civil liberties violations in multiple languages, worked more closely with communities about language access and created a multi-award language services contract for DHS Components.

DHS and other executive agencies were further prompted to undertake these steps by Attorney General Merrick Garland last year, in a memorandum calling for revised language access plans, among other things.

“Today’s updated plan highlights the significant steps DHS has taken to advance language access,” CRCL Officer Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia said. “In the decade since the Department issued its first Language Access Plan, it has reduced barriers to utilizing DHS programs, further supported workforce in public-facing roles, and deepened engagement with diverse communities nationwide. Our office is honored to have worked with DHS Components to meet their language access obligations and, with these updates, put a strong overarching plan in place to guide the Department.”

Presently, DHS accounts for the language needs of Arabic, Chinese, Dari, Haitian Creole, French, Korean, Pashto, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Thai, Tagalog, Ukrainian and Vietnamese speakers. However, it’s also pushing to communicate more effectively with limited English proficient people from the dozens of other languages that could be encountered across the country at any time.