Introduction

Executive Order (EO) 13166 directed each federal agency to develop and implement systems to ensure that those persons who are limited English proficient (LEP) have meaningful access to the services provided by the agency “consistent with, and without unduly burdening, the fundamental mission of the agency.”[1] The Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Civil Rights Division subsequently issued guidance regarding the implementation of the EO and defining persons with LEP as “[i]individuals who do not speak English as their primary language and who have a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English. [2]

Through its work, EOIR has a long history of interacting with people with LEP. Many individuals who appear before EOIR tribunals are persons whose primary language is not English and who have a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English. EOIR strives to provide fair, impartial, and timely adjudication of immigration proceedings. Fundamental to this goal, EOIR seeks to provide persons with LEP with meaningful access to proceedings before EOIR. EOIR issued its first language access plan in 2012. This update to EOIR’s Language Access Plan (the Plan) provides additional guidance to all EOIR components in providing meaningful access to EOIR services for persons with LEP and additional information on EOIR’s language access initiatives to the public. 

[1] Executive Order 13166—Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency, 65 FR 50121 (Aug. 16, 2000), https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2000-08-16/pdf/00-20938.pdf.

[2] Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons, 67 FR 41455, 41459 (June 18, 2002).