Interpreters for Indigenous People

Re “Interpreters Give Voice to the Indigenous,” Oct. 11: This article illustrates once again what’s really wrong with our immigration laws. Not only do we have to worry about becoming victims of crimes committed by immigrants (legal or illegal), we now have to be concerned about whether or not these people have interpreters in court. These interpreters are not cheap. And it is us, the taxpayers, that get stuck paying for these services.

May I make two suggestions? First, don’t break any laws. Second, if you do, please learn English so we the taxpayers don’t have to pay for your interpreters in court. That way, if you end up doing time from the crime committed, you will be able to follow instructions in English while in jail or prison.

Or are we going to have those interpreters follow you to the joint too?

Jose O. Maldonado

Aliso Viejo

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It is hard to understand how a native-born Mexican citizen can live all his life in a Spanish-language nation and not learn enough Spanish to survive. Even more astonishing is how that person traveled to the U.S. and found work, even though not speaking either Spanish or English. Interpreters who give a voice to the indigenous are just one more piece in the growth industry of catering to illegal immigrants.

Barb Vickroy

Escondido

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If the Santa Maria Courthouse, or any other jurisdiction, needs competent translators for Mexican and Central American indigenous people, give me a call. Here in the heart of Los Angeles’ Pico-Union district, we teach English as a second language (or for many of our students, their third language, their native language being the first, Spanish, the second), Spanish literacy and computer literacy to hundreds of indigenous-speaking persons from Mexico and Central America each year.

All of our students are hard-working people who drag themselves to school every night after a 10-to-12-hour day of backbreaking work. Call me oversensitive, but I felt this article was another “immigrant bashing” piece meant to portray the indigenous population as a drain, without pointing out that these laborers do the work that most American citizens and many non-indigenous Latin Americans would not do. And yes, they do pay taxes.

So was it on purpose or just coincidence that The Times decided to print the article on Columbus Day?

Dorit Dowler-Guerrero

Director, Youth and Adult

Education, Centro Latino

de Educacion Popular

Los Angeles