Upon release from immigrant detention at the Northwest ICE Processing Center (NWIPC) in Tacoma, asylum seekers are often scared and confused, not knowing where they are or whom to trust.

Their journeys to escape political oppression, war, violence, persecution, death threats, natural disasters, and economic hardship include difficult treks across several continents, often with exploitation by human traffickers. Immigration processing in ICE detention, where all their belongings are removed, can take months — even years.

The compassionate support that AIDNW volunteers and staff offer to immigrants in detention, and upon their release, relieves isolation and anxiety, connects them to community resources, and provides hope for new lives.