Respond client, family granted asylum!

A Respond Crisis Translation client who was politically persecuted in Venezuela was just granted asylum, alongside his family, after a year-long case!

David* fled Venezuela with his family after he had been retaliated against for his political affiliation. In another country in South America, they unfortunately again experienced discrimination, were taken advantage of, attacked, and refused their passports – forcing them to flee on foot to the U.S.

Respond got involved in early 2023, assisting the law firm representing David in translating every communication they had with David professionally instead of using Google translate like many law firms, companies, and even social organizations do. 

“We continued working with the law firm in every step of David’s asylum application, evidence, I589, notifications, submitting additional evidence, and even Court rehearsals where they practiced how to behave in court, how interpretation works and what he needed to say,” said Respond’s Spanish Team Lead Tatiana García.

Earlier this month, the law firm asked Respond to translate a Closing Letter – because David and his family were granted asylum!

In a world where countless asylum seekers are subjected to detention and deportation instead of dignity and safety, translators play an essential role in ensuring that every asylum seeker has the highest possible chance of a successful outcome. At Respond we have seen countless cases like this one where a diligent trauma-informed translator marks the difference between a successful and unsuccessful asylum outcome.

In a system built and stacked against asylum seekers, every win is an opportunity to celebrate the diligence of Respond translators and our partners — and the resilience of our clients.

*Name changed to protect privacy.