ABSTRACT In recent decades, there has been an increase in the practice of intercultural mediation in Spain. In different fields such as social work, education, and health, institutions involved the figure of the mediator in both public and private organisations as reflecting inclusion programmes. This paper is based on interviews with intercultural mediators interacting with young mothers without a residence permit in Spain. It examines the contradictory and tense position of the mediator and pays attention to a hierarchical and colonial listening displayed during the intercultural mediation, exposing the coloniality of relationships, racialisation and emotional control. Mediators find themselves between mothers and social workers. They can be seen as occupying two ends of the power spectrum. However, the mediator has less recognition amongst professionals in the field of social work. During interventions, the mediators are closer to the mothers since they also intervene as interpreters with a common linguistic background; they have a migrant experience themselves, and they try to build trust with the mothers, despite being seen as institutional figures. Simultaneously, from their less recognised position within the organisations, they negotiate the social workers’ understanding of mothers’ vulnerability, which could bring them into conflict with the institutions.