U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is committed to providing meaningful access for individuals who are limited English proficient (LEP), including individuals who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing, to ICE programs and activities by providing quality language assistance services in a timely manner, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 13166, Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency (Aug. 11, 2000) and Executive Order 14091: Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government.
The ICE Office of Diversity and Civil Rights manages the overall ICE language access program, providing technical assistance and guidance to promote equitable access to ICE’s programs and activities, including through interpretive services and translation.
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 “No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.)
Executive Order 13166 of August 11, 2000
Executive Order 13166 Federal agencies will develop and implement a system by which individuals who are limited English proficient (LEP) can meaningfully access agency programs and activities consistent with, and without unduly burdening, the fundamental mission of the agency.
Executive Order 14091
Executive Order 14091: Executive Order on Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government.
ICE Directive, Policy and Guidance
ICE Language Access Plan: sets forth the standards, principles, and guidelines through which ICE will provide and improve meaningful access to Agency programs and activities to individuals who are LEP.
Plan de Acceso Lingüístico: The ICE Language Access Plan in Spanish.
ICE Language Access Plan Supplement: The ICE LAP Supplement documents the work ICE has done to provide meaningful language access and provides an overview of how ICE will continue to provide meaningful language access services.
ICE Policy Statement 8016.2: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties: Commits ICE to upholding the civil rights and civil liberties of ICE personnel, and all individuals we encounter, which is integral to the execution of the ICE mission.
DHS Regulation, Policy and Guidance
DHS Language Access Plans. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recognizes the importance of being able to communicate effectively with individuals, including those with LEP, across our many missions and functions. The DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, which leads the Department's language access efforts, joins its colleagues across DHS to release these Language Access Plans for DHS Components and Offices.
Definitions
Effective Communication: Communication sufficient to provide the LEP individual with substantially the same level of access to services received by individuals who are not LEP. For example, staff must take reasonable steps to ensure communication with an LEP individual is as effective as communications with others when providing similar programs and services.
Deaf and/or Hard of Hearing (D/HOH): An individual who is D/HOH may have a limited proficiency in spoken or written English and may not be proficient in ASL, or any other recognized sign language. Interpretation: Interpretation involves the immediate oral communication of meaning from one language into another.
Limited English Proficiency (LEP): Refers to individuals who do not speak English as their primary language and who have a limited ability to read, speak, write, or understand English. These individuals may be entitled to language assistance to promote effective communication.
Meaningful Access: Language assistance that results in accurate, timely, and effective communication and that is available at no cost to the LEP individual. Meaningful access denotes access that is not significantly restricted, delayed, or inferior as compared to program or activity access provided to English proficient persons.
Translation: The process of converting written text from a source language into an equivalent written text in a target language as fully and accurately as possible while maintaining the style, tone, and intent of the text, while in light of differences of culture and dialect.
ICE ERO Contact Information
There are numerous ways for members of the public to contact ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) to request assistance with language access issues:
Contact ICE ERO Field Offices or Detention Facilities directly.
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) may be contacted through the ERO Contact Form
Community members may raise detention-related questions and concerns to ICE ERO by calling the toll-free ICE ERO Detention and Information Reporting Line – 1-888-351-4024.
Discrimination Complaints
How to File a Complaint
Request language access assistance or submit complaints to ICE at ICECivilLiberties@ice.dhs.gov.
Complaints regarding language access may also be submitted to the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties here: Make a Civil Rights Complaint.
Resources
DHS Language Access Resources: Contains materials and resources to assist DHS personnel and grantees in serving LEP individuals.
Welcome to LEP.gov: Language access information and resources.