Navigating Asylum Advocacy: My Journey with the Portuguese Language
by Anuar Arriaga Esquivel (he/him)
Asylum Legal Advocate | DOJ Accredited Rep
Anuar Arriaga Esquivel (Legal Advocate) and Andressa Clark (Interpreter)
Introduction
My name is Anuar Arriaga Esquivel and I am an Asylum Legal Advocate. A few months ago, I had the unique privilege of representing a client during their asylum interview in San Francisco. Unlike any other interview I had represented, this one was entirely in Portuguese – a language in which I prepared my client and listened to their testimony to advocate effectively. Portuguese is my third language (my two others being English and Spanish), making this experience both daunting and exhilarating. For anyone who has learned a new language, you know how terrifying it can be to test your skills in high-stakes situations like an asylum interview. This journey not only tested my language skills but also deepened my connections and broadened my perspective on the power of language and community.
Culture and Community
I was first exposed to the Portuguese language when I arrived in the United States in 1999 because my neighbors were immigrants from Portugal. I immediately fell in love with the sound, rhythm, and proximity to Spanish, but I never had the opportunity to learn it academically until I attended UC Berkeley in 2016. I enrolled in a class to fulfill unit requirements, unaware of the rich history and customs in Brazilian culture. A few months into my studies, I made friends from Brazil who took me under their wing and taught me all the things I didn’t learn in school. They helped me become fluent by immersing me in their language, traditions, and music. Through community, I learned about the warmth and inclusivity of Brazilian culture, which reminded me a lot of my own Mexican culture. The conversations, food, and celebrations I experienced were similar, but new. This combination fueled my motivation to become more involved in Portuguese language and community.
The Asylum Interview Experience
I reached out to my friend Andressa Clark, who grew up in the city of São Paulo, to interpret for an asylum interview. When I extended the offer she was ecstatic at the opportunity to use her background to help an asylum seeker from her own country. During the interview, our client, Julio, was required to talk about painful memories; our support was essential to alleviate this burden. Failure to provide proper interpretation often leads to clients repeating painful memories during their interview, and in many cases, retraumatization. My role was to fully understand my client in order to support Andressa, object to any irrelevant questioning, and to provide a final statement of any missing elements of our client’s case. The interview took approximately two hours, full of intense questioning and moments of tension, pain, and sadness. However, it was also incredibly gratifying to work together to make Julio’s experience tolerable. The three of us left the asylum office feeling exhausted, grateful that it was over.
Interview with Andressa and our client Julio
Shortly after our asylum interview, Andressa and Julio were both interviewed about their experience in providing and receiving culturally responsive interpretation and how this experience shaped their perspectives about the asylum process.
Andressa
How was your experience interpreting for an asylum interview?
Andressa: I was excited when I received the invitation, but also scared. Although I went through an immigration process myself, I never had an interview. I didn't know what to expect and felt a great responsibility. Anuar provided crucial training, helping me understand the process and become familiar with the case. This support made interpreting more manageable.
How does it feel to be able to help people from your own community?
Andressa: It felt great! It was an honor and blessing to help someone from my country make the United States their home. After hearing the client’s story, it was clear that they would benefit from asylum. I realized how important it is to help asylum seekers.
Would you interpret at an asylum interview again?
Andressa: Of course! It was a powerful experience to help someone find safety in the United States. I enjoyed being able to transmit both the words and the emotions during my interpretation to make the best case possible for the client.
What do you love about the Portuguese language and Brazilian culture?
Andressa: I love Portuguese because it is a beautiful, complex language. There are so many words to express emotion, which makes it such an interesting and rich idiom. I also love that in Brazilian culture we are welcoming and community oriented. I feel compelled to help immigrants because when I arrived in the United States, I faced many obstacles myself and received help from my community. It is only natural to want to give back, especially to asylum seekers who have so many obstacles to overcome.
Julio
(Conversation translated from Portuguese to English)
Did it make you feel comfortable knowing that your interpreter and advocate spoke Portuguese and were familiar with your culture?
Julio: Completely! Knowing this helped me 100% feel comfortable to express myself better and open my heart. Getting to practice with them prior to my interview also helped us all become familiar with our way of speaking and, consequently, eased the tension during this incredibly important moment in my life. Having Andressa and Anuar, who have both mastered the Portuguese language and who know about my culture as my representatives, removed the fear I previously had about how to express myself and how to behave with an officer who would most likely be from a different culture and speak a different language.
How did you feel during your interview preparation and during your interview?
Julio: At times I felt nervous because I couldn’t remember everything I had to say since I had been waiting five years for an interview. But for the most part, I felt comfortable, motivated, and inspired to tell my story after my preparation with Anuar and Andressa. The words and events came back to me because, although they were tough moments in my life that I have not talked about for years, I never forgot them; I just became accustomed to not talking about them. The preparation helped me feel comfortable with sharing my story again.
What is your favorite thing about the Portuguese language and/or Brazilian culture?
Julio: I believe that Brazilian Portuguese is much broader and richer than English due to regionality, which makes words and expressions vary by state. Regarding culture, I like that people are welcoming, kind, and open, something that in my experience greatly contrasts with American culture.
Julio and his partner were granted asylum just a few days after his interview with Anuar and Andressa as his representatives.
Oasis client Julio enjoying a day at Santa Monica Pier, which reminds him of American culture and his new life in the United States.
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Published May 23, 2024