NAJIT Academy Webinar: Understanding EOIR: What is immigration court, and why interpret there?

Immigration court (EOIR, the Executive Office for Immigration Review) employs thousands of court interpreters across the country, many of whom travel from state to state to support immigration proceedings. However, EOIR, as a DOJ entity, is structured and operates very differently from other courts where interpreters work that are part of state or federal judiciaries. This webinar will discuss the structure and function of immigration court, the relationship of EOIR to the federal judiciary and to other federal agencies with immigration missions, and how cases flow through immigration court from start to finish. It will also discuss the work and experience of interpreters in immigration court. Lili Selden, a Japanese interpreter whose interpreting work includes EOIR, will also provide her insight as an interpreter of a language other than Spanish (LOTS) into the preparation and self-study process that she underwent to prepare to work in EOIR as an interpreter of a language with far fewer ready-made study resources available. Get ready for an exciting and informative session that will inform your understanding topic of current national interest: our immigration adjudication and enforcement system, as seen through the eyes of interpreters who facilitate EOIR proceedings on a daily basis.