According to recent census data, the number of immigrants in the US requiring translation services has doubled in the last 25 years. A full 22 million people in the United States now rely on translation resources in education, healthcare, business, and professional environments. The number climbs even higher when you take into account the country’s undocumented immigrants.
This tremendous growth has enriched our culture and economy beyond major cities like Los Angeles and New York, spreading all the way into metropolitan and rural areas of the country. As a result, the United States is enjoying the most growth of any developed economy since 2008.
Non-traditional immigrant states like Nevada and North Carolina need help providing translated documents that support these new arrivals. To assist local governments, lawmakers, and other organizations seeking opportunities to help local Limited English Proficient (LEP) populations access translation services, the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) has launched the Language Access: Translation and Interpretation Policies and Practices project.
We especially recommend the use of MPI’s Language Portal, a searchable database filled with translated documents that are adaptable to several types of service areas, including education, health, and public safety. Dozens of languages are represented in the portal, as are materials and content from all 50 states.
The influx of US immigrants shows no signs of slowing down so it’s more vital than ever that businesses and government organizations do all they can to help LEP populations get the translation assistance they want and need. MPI’s Translation and Interpretation Policies and Practices project is a great resource to get started.
“Statue of Liberty” by Eldar Kamalov – Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.
