Iraqi translators have never had it easy. They volunteered to help Americans in their country. Translators have a difficult task. They are viewed as traitors by their fellow countrymen for helping the Americans troops.
They live with danger and fear on a daily basis. Their lives are in at risk everyday when they serve as interpreters but even more so when they aren’t surrounded and working with American GI’s everyday.
Many translators along with their family and friends are killed for being traitors. One set of brothers that were friendly to American troops were killed and beheaded and then left on the base. They were only 10 and 15 years old at the time.
So if Iraqis help the American troops in any way they are putting themselves at risk. They cannot count on how long they may live. There are thousands of Iraqis that have helped and worked with Americans during the war, but none have faced greater danger than translators.
They have been denounced as spies, shot, tortured, killed, threatened, and even found corpses on their doorsteps as a warning sign. Despite these dangers many still voluteer although they try to take precautions while in service in order to try and conceal their identity. They cover up their faces so people will have a harder time seeing and recognizing them.
They even choose code names to try and conceal their identity and sometimes speak with accents if they are working in villages close to where they grew up. Another difficult aspect of the job is the fact that sometimes they are disowned by their family and friends.
There are a lot of risks and responsibility that come with this job. Not only are they required to interpret what is being said, but they also de-escalate situations. Often times they have to keep the locals informed about what’s going on along with the soldiers. Miscommunication and anxiety can be deadly for everyone in Iraq.
The service that these Iraqis have provided to the U.S. military is invaluable and because of that Congress has tried to make it easier for these Iraqis to escape with their lives and come to America. Although it is still difficult to get them over here. There are stacks of paperwork, special government visas a generals letter that are required. Even after all of this, only a limited number of visas are granted to translators per year.
After all the sacrifices these Iraqis have made, it is extremely difficult and the chances are low that they will be able to come to the U.S. The government needs to make it easier for them. While they are trying to get through all the paperwork, their lives are in danger and the government and immigration just stand by. Hopefully the process will change and translators can immigrate to America quicker and in higher numbers.
Tags: immigration laws, iraqi interpreters, iraqi translators, refugee, us military, visas
