- Published: December 29, 2021
- Updated: December 29, 2021
- University / College: Université de Montréal
- Level: Intermediate School
- Language: English
- Downloads: 26
The court had moved to a remote location for two weeks which formed part of their continuity of operation exercise just in case there was no disruption from any emergency such as flood or tornado.
In the process of interpretations during the first day, we had sluggish beginning due to the malfunctioning of the barcode booking system of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This meant that we had to sort out the documents manually and the office of the U. S. Attorney assisted us in processing the documents. Because of this, few, less than a third, detainees could be arraigned on Tuesday. We made rotations in shift due to the many numbers of interpreters available that day. Although the court adjourned after 4 pm, there was an overnight prosecution work that planned on a 7 am to midnight court during the next day.
I found out more facts about the Agriprocessors such as the factual statistics of arrest and the number of employees. However, the more I found out, I felt blind-sighted in an assignment that I never needed any part. Although I mastered the whole rationale of the secrecy involved, I understood clearly that the interpreter of the contract is the one with the right to decline a job that has conflicts with his intuitional morals. I had however been deprived of this opportunity. I was already in any way and at some point, I considered withdrawing seriously from the assignment as a federally certified interpreter for the first time in 23 years due to conflict of interest. Nevertheless, I had both the contractual and ethical obligations to have a withdrawal in case of conflict of interest compromising neutrality.
Days passed by in the courtroom with some being long, short, while others beginning as early as 6: 45 am. The interpreters took most of their time in the first three days to pair up with their defense attorneys in assisting in the interview of the clients. On average, the 17 defendants were represented by every 18 appointed attorneys. We interviewed most of them in jail because by this time majority had been taken to county and state prisons throughout eastern Iowa. After a series of events, there were protests by the citizens featuring in the evening news. This was due to the criminal prosecution of individuals that were spearheaded by the Special Assistant U. S. Attorneys. There other protests in which a mother said, “ This is not humane, there has to be a better way.” This shows the level of interpretation by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement which became the Department of Homeland Security with broad powers of enforcement and authority.