ATA Interpreters Division

David Rumsey Writes a Letter to the Editor of the New York Times

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[David Rumsey writes letter to the editor of the New York Times - newspaper clipart]ATA President David Rumsey writes a letter to the editor of the New York Times commenting on the recently revised requirements for Afghan and Iraqi interpreters seeking US visas. It was published in the print edition on February 16, 2016.

Read it here:

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/16/opinion/visas-for-interpreters.html?_r=1

 

 

 

Comments

  1. Josephine Bacon says

    Brilliant! As I know from my own experience living in the USA, the US immigration authorities put interpreters and translators into the category of unskilled labor! These people put their lives on the line for the U.S. and the rest of the western world and are treated like dirt, in the UK as well as the USA.

    Josephine Bacon, MATA

  2. Nabil Salem says

    Hello;
    David, as always, is eloquent and professional.
    Although I sympathize with immigration interpreters and support their cause all the way but unfortunately many so called interpreters, in fact simply bi-lingual, who accept below professional standards terms, are the ones who are bringing misery to themselves and to the profession at large. Existing professional organizations, by simply making loud statements, are not helping the situation. As I stated many times before, the interpreters community at large, and the major professional organizations, should work together to regulate this profession. Only that way we would get proper recognition and stop any entity or individual from taking advantage of us. Look at real estate agents; despite all the facilities now available for both parties to deal directly and “cut the middle man” 90 percent of transactions are handled through estate agents who are well organized and well respected and, who respect each other.
    True, we cannot get involved in “price-fixing” but if the government is able to set minimum wages for workers, waiters, etc … and fees for doctors and health care providers, I am sure, that we can work with the government to set an adequately rate for interpreters that would enable them to pay their bills and maintain a descent life and stop agencies from exploiting them.
    Thank you.
    Nabil
    Founder: AIA