We are an abolitionist language justice organization providing around-the-clock, professional, trauma-informed interpretation and translation to migrants, refugees, and all for whom language is a barrier to accessing safety and dignity.

Language barriers are deadly and pervasive.

Language deprivation prevents hundreds of millions of people from accessing basic human rights.

We offer rapid response emergency language access support in 180+ languages on the frontlines.

Quotes Real
“My son has won asylum. This army of people with huge hearts ensured our papers were ready on time. This is a new beginning for my son, an end to the nightmares, the beginning of his freedom.”

-Individual client

“I live in one of Kenya’s largest refugee camps. Working with Respond, I have an independent working schedule, good income. Translation is becoming a good career for me.”

-Mohamed, Somali translator

“Respond created trainings for Indigenous community members who had never before accessed professional training.”

-Colectivo Vida Digna

“I’m a woman, an immigrant, and a cancer survivor battling PTSD. Working with Respond, I’ve come to know my worth. I’m able to improve my health while finding a flexible work opportunity.”

-Izzat, Urdu interpreter

“Respond has been able to deliver quality translations frequently used in court, providing an essential gateway to getting our clients the safety they need.”

-Sanctuary for Families

"Respond is a trailblazer. We rely on them to translate documents in [indigenous] languages. A client was freed from detention after Respond translated an emergency document in under 24 hours.”

-Southern Poverty Law Center

“Respond’s translation services literally save lives. With their help, we have paroled 1,000+ Haitian migrants into the US and helped countless others access crucial information and resources.”

-Al Otro Lado

After Afghanistan’s government collapsed, international agencies stopped paying Afghans. But Respond stuck by us. The day the system collapsed, Respond reached out and raised funds for us translators.

-Yasir, Dari translator

"Respond has been revolutionary for us. They have provided make-or-break assistance for asylum hearings where deportation is a death sentence. Our clients won and were reunited with their families.”

-RAICES

Latest News

Blog
Support RCT work in Gaza and fighting ICE Abductions

We need urgent support sustaining the lives and work of interpreters on the frontlines. Support Palestinian Translators in Gaza and our Interpreters Fighting ICE Abductions

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Palestinians in Gaza are dying

Palestinians in Gaza are dying of starvation due to the mass famine imposed by Israel’s siege. Twelve translators on our team and our Arabic Team Director, are amongst the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians facing starvation …

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Making a difference

Every translation has a real, tangible impact on someone's story. The work of the Spanish Team.

Working at Respond and being part of the community has shown me that what we are doing really does make a difference. Every case we translate or interpret has a real, tangible impact on someone's story. Getting the chance to work with people who are aligned on the same causes …

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100+ Cases in 80 Days

Joining Respond during the transition to the Trump Administration

When I graduated from my Masters in Conference Interpreting and Translation Studies last year, I soon realised that getting professional translation experience in the real world was a lot more difficult than many of us on the course had anticipated. In-house roles are few and far between these days, …

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Language community fights back against attacks on migrants

We at Respond Crisis Translation are translating, interpreting, and intervening to disrupt language rights violations, empower anti-deportation and border activists, and ensure that migrants have the resources, documents, and language access that …

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The urgent need for language access in Immigration Detention

Linguists with Respond Crisis Translation participated in interviewing and sharing their expertise in this research article titled “Held Incommunicado: The Failed Promise of Language Access in Immigration Detention.”

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Respond Crisis Translation is proud to serve and partner with over 616 organizations and collectives

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WE ARE FUNDED BY:

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