More than eight percent of the U.S. population does not speak English “very well,” according to the Census, while close to 66 million report speaking a language other than English at home. Despite those numbers, language and cultural-specific services are not widely available, particularly for Latinos.

The issue goes beyond making interpreters available, or directing users to online translators. It is reflected in the lack of representation in local governments; the inadequacies of outreach programs that fail to grasp cultural nuances or perpetuate stereotypes, and initiatives that overlook systemic inequities.

The result is a series of obstacles that prevent many non-English speakers from overcoming the language barriers, accessing healthcare, education and business opportunities and having a better chance of building a life for them and their families.

“More than Words” brings together 11 newsrooms and 13 Report for America corps members to explore how these barriers play themselves out across the country in almost every aspect of people’s lives, with an impact that goes well beyond language.

U.S. News is publishing a selection from the comprehensive series, highlighting compelling photography from the project. Read the full stories from The GroundTruth Project.

Lack of Translation Services and Trust Leave Out Voices in Stockton

STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA — About 45% of Stockton’s residents are Latino, with over 40% of people in San Joaquin County speaking a language other than English at home, according to the U.S. Census. Many of those who only speak Spanish are frustrated that language barriers get in the way of public safety information.

The potentially dangerous consequences of language barriers were highlighted last October when Stockton officials held a town hall meeting to discuss the threat of serial killings that had been taking place in the city since April 2021. At the time, seven people had been killed or shot. Five of them were Hispanic men.

During the town hall, city officials told community members about the killings and gave tips on how to stay safe, especially during early morning hours. However, several Spanish speakers in attendance left the meeting disappointed and frustrated because they were left out of the conversation after translating services failed.

This was particularly worrisome for agricultural workers in attendance who were among the most vulnerable because they leave for work in the dark, early mornings, often alone.

The Woman Making Tax Season Less Intimidating for Migrants

HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA — More than 160,000 undocumented immigrants live in Pennsylvania, and roughly 86% are of working age, according to New American Economy. According to the same analysis, undocumented immigrants paid $208 million in state and local taxes in Pennsylvania in 2019, and more than $342 million in federal taxes.

In 2021, undocumented households contributed $30.8 billion in total taxes, including $18.6 billion in federal income taxes and $12.2 billion in state and local taxes, according to national data from the American Community Survey.

However, immigrants still face many barriers that deter them from reporting their income, like a lack of translation services, financial limitations, poor access to transportation, and misinformation about the process of filing taxes.

Esmirna Jiménez is one of the few tax preparers in the area who is a native Spanish speaker and is an IRS Certified Acceptance Agent, who can help people who do not qualify for a Social Security number. Typically, undocumented immigrants can file taxes using a temporary Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.

Now, during tax season, she knows she will be working long days for at least a month and a half to help people meet the April 18 filing deadline.

On Sundays, she drives from her home in Carlisle to Harrisburg to offer walk-in services at Pedro Ferreras’s home barbershop in Allison Hill. From 10 to 5, she is stationed at a plastic foldable desk with her laptop. Against the backdrop of a buzzing trimmer and oldies playing from Ferreras’s speakers, Jiménez pores over her clients’ W-2s and IRS tax applications.

Yakima Valley's Holistic Approach to Interpretation

YAKIMA, WASHINGTON – In Yakima County, which is 52% Hispanic and largely agricultural, local health care systems have had to adapt to the needs of the population. According to the Census Bureau, in 2021, 37,000 Spanish-speakers in Yakima County described themselves as speaking English “less than very well,” a term used by the bureau to identify people with limited English proficiency.

During and after World War II, Mexican migrant workers moved to the Yakima Valley to help meet a dramatic need for farm workers. That need has continued into today with the Valley’s apple, cherry, asparagus and grape crops.

Since those first migrations in the 1940s, the Latino population in Yakima County has grown to 130,000 people. In small communities like Granger, Toppenish and Wapato, Latinos make up more than 80% of the population.