Top Language Access and Certification Provider Serving Federal Government Commits New Funding for Added Training, Testing and Security Clearance Certification of Its Domestic Interpreter Workforce
MONTEREY, Calif., March 3, 2010 — Language Line Services, the leading provider of over-the-phone and video interpretation services, today announced it has been selected by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services within the Department of Homeland Security as one of the agency's providers of interpreters for Asylum Division adjudications nationwide. Under the five-year contract, the U.S.-based company will provide on-demand, on-site and over-the-phone language interpretation services for an estimated 90 to 95 percent of all asylum seekers that do not speak English well or at all.
Language Line Services' interpreters will be used for the interpretation and monitoring of sworn testimony by asylum applicants and witnesses, as well as statements by lawyers and asylum officers. These services will be provided in addition to existing agreements the company already has in place with the Department of Homeland Security to provide telephone interpretation for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
"We are proud that our track record with many federal agencies speaks for itself and that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has once again chosen us as its partner for interpretation services," said Louis Provenzano, Language Line Services President and COO. "Our experience in government security, legal and immigration terminology will help the Asylum Division provide the highest level of service and clear communication."
Language Line Services has a longstanding history with various federal government agencies, whether supporting disaster victims, border security or facilitating communication for taxpayers every year.
"The Internal Revenue Service is charged with helping Americans understand and meet their tax responsibilities and applying tax law with integrity and fairness to all, regardless of language," added Teresa Fernandez, Program Manager of the IRS Multi-Lingual Initiative Strategy Office. "With its best-in-the-industry technology, training and certification offerings, Language Line Services has ensured that language is never a barrier to this mission."
As the provider of interpretation services to more than 90% of the nation's 9-1-1 call centers, 75% of Fortune 500 companies and hundreds of law enforcement organizations, government agencies and court systems across the country, Monterey, California-based Language Line Services has, over the past year, upgraded its already stringent interpreter training, testing and certification requirements, and is participating in government-mandated security screenings of its team of interpreters.
Provenzano noted that, with this new agreement, Language Line Services has invested in an additional layer of security to meet U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' Asylum Division requirements. "The investment in upgraded screening and training for our domestic-based interpreters will provide added value and create a more secure interpreting session for all federal agencies that our company works with," added Provenzano. "Language Line Services remains mindful of the trust placed in our federal government by the American people and upholds this to deliver comprehensive interpretation services from our team of interpreters that help enable fair and honest governing for all."
About Language Line Services
Language Line Services, the global leader in telephone interpreting and language solutions, serves clients in government, healthcare, telecommunications, financial services, utilities, insurance and many other industries by quickly connecting them to their customers, patients and sales prospects in more than 170 spoken languages as well as American Sign Language (ASL) and Mexican Sign Language (LSM). Growth of the language interpreting industry has soared with increased immigration and government regulatory policies mandating that organizations provide services to limited English speakers in their own languages. Language Line Services is recognized as a trusted partner to thousands of public and private organizations throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, providing easy access to the industry's fastest language interpreting service at highly competitive rates. For more information about Language Line Services' suite of telephone, on-site and video interpreting, document translation, interactive software-based translation, interpreter training and certification programs, please call (800) 752-6096 or visit http://www.languageline.com.
Media Contacts:
Dale Hansman / Email / 831-648-7436
Jeanine Karp / Email / 305-448-3754
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