My role as an interpreter went far beyond transferring words
One of the most powerful moments of my year with RCT was interpreting for Marwa (pseudonym), a transgender woman who had been detained by ICE since 2024 and was ultimately granted release. This experience reaffirmed why language access is not a secondary service, but a cornerstone of justice.
For Marwa and many LGBTQ+ individuals fleeing environments where their identities place them in serious danger, survival often depends on being able to tell their story clearly and safely. In detention settings—where fear, isolation, and power imbalances are heightened—linguistic justice is not optional. Many individuals depend entirely on interpreters to ensure their voices are heard and their identities respected.
During this case, my role as an interpreter went far beyond transferring words between languages. I became responsible for helping ensure that Marwa, while facing prolonged detention and fear of return, could communicate her experiences with clarity, dignity, and agency in a process that directly impacted her freedom. Moments like these constantly remind me that language can either reinforce marginalization or create space for protection and recognition.
This experience reinforced my understanding that interpretation is deeply connected to human rights work. For LGBTQ+ individuals in detention, even small misunderstandings can have serious consequences. Trauma-informed and ethical interpretation helps protect not only communication but also the individual’s ability to be fully seen and heard within legal systems.
Being part of RCT places me at the intersection of language, justice, and advocacy. Witnessing Marwa’s release was a powerful reminder that when legal representation, community support, and language access work together, they can change the course of someone’s life. It reaffirmed why I chose this profession and why this work continues to matter deeply to me.
By Hajar Firoud
