Advocates for Immigrants in Detention Northwest

 

Supporting Immigrants with Dignity while in Detention and Upon Release

many ways to support

Donate Now

how you can help

Get Involved

learn even more

our events

What We Do

Our volunteers are outside the  release gate of the NW ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington every weekday from  2:00 – 7 pm waiting to welcome released immigrants

The AIDNW Welcome Center is in an RV stationed outside the release gate, and the immigrants know this is a place where they can get help.

We can arrange for their transportation to the bus station, airport or taxi, and when needed, we provide temporary housing until more permanent arrangements are made.

WELCOME CENTER

Our Welcome Center provides a safe place to telephone relatives and plan onward travel

HOSPITALITY HOUSE

Our Hospitality House offers shelter to immigrants released from detention 

VISITATION

In-person visits and our Visitation Program volunteers are back inside!

PHONE ACCESS

When immigrants are unable to hear the voices of family and friends

Post-Detention Accompaniment Network (PDAN)

Volunteer drivers take released immigrants to the airport, bus station or to access local services

Tales from the AIDNW Welcome Center

News and Events

IN-PERSON VISITORS NEEDED

Asylum seekers are brought from the southern border to the Northwest ICE Processing Center on the Tacoma tideflats. They can spend months in detention here, and many are eventually deported. Detained persons can request in-person visits by an AIDNW Visitation Volunteer, and we currently have more requests than we can answer. Please see  https://aidnw.org/our-programs/ for details on our Visitation Program and fill out a volunteer application LINK

We continue to greet asylum-seekers who are released from detention, as many as 25 people a day.  Your support allows AIDNW to offer coats, backpacks and other needed supplies, or funds to maintain operations. Please see our Amazon wish list or donation details:  aidnw.org/donate. Checks can be sent to our office at 1915 Sheridan Ave Tacoma, WA 98405.

Thank you!

It takes a village!  We are grateful for all of our community support.

Upcoming Events

March 15, 2023

Community Meeting
10:30 – 12:00 a.m

In person!
Peace Lutheran Church
2106 S. Cushman Ave.
Tacoma 98540

Our guest speaker will be Melissa Nitsch, Senior Public Engagement Specialist of the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO). The OIDO provides independent oversight of immigration detention facilities, conducts unannounced inspections and handles complaints about potential violations of immigration detention standards.

Please send an email to  officevolunteer@aidnw.org to RSVP so that we know how many people to expect.

Please save the date

 

Seeking Board members, including a Board Chair, to guide this vibrant, vital organization as we work to expand our presence in both the online and local community.
To express interest, please fill out a volunteer application LINK   and check "board" at the top

AIDNW is on Radio Tacoma!

Tune in to hear our monthly reports that feature interviews and heart-warming excerpts from the nightly Welcome Center action. You can listen to the reports at https://radiotacoma.org/aidnw or on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 5 pm, Wednesday at 7 pm on 101.9 FM 

AIDNW Speaker's Bureau

Want to learn more?
Would your school, church or community group like to learn more about immigration, detention, the Northwest ICE Processing Center and the work of AIDNW? AIDNW Speakers Bureau volunteers are available to make presentations-in person or by Zoom. If you are interested please contact: dcruz@aidnw.org

Tacoma Arts Live video  
“Reflections in the Shadow of Tahoma: Welcoming Immigrants”  https://vimeo.com/755754981 AIDNW is featured at minute 3:41)

AIDNW was featured on KGHP Radio's Harbor Chat!
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=395209735827197

Community Meetings are held every two months and feature a short presentation on topics relating to the detention center as well as updates from AIDNW. Community Meetings are currently held via Zoom. Here are recordings from recent meetings.

AIDNW Community Mtg September, 2022

A presentation from Refugee Women's Alliance

AIDNW Community Mtg March 16th, 2022

A presentation from Lutheran Community Services Northwest

AIDNW Community Mtg January 19, 2022

Guest speaker Julie Braker, Staff Attorney Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP)

AIDNW June community meeting

AIDNW Community Mtg August 18, 2021

Three presentations on the immigrant detainees held and released from the Northwest ICE Processing Center

AIDNW June community meeting

AIDNW Community Mtg June 16, 2021

Guest Speaker  Stephanie Murray, detention center post release coordinator for World Relief

How You Can Help!

Volunteer
Visit or greet a detained immigrant. Provide transportation or other assistance to immigrants staying in our Hospitality House

Participate
Come to one of our bimonthly informational meetings.

Connect
Join our email Google Group to receive notification of news and events, current volunteer opportunities and donation needs

Community Rewards
Link your Fred Meyer rewards card or Amazon Smile Program to support AIDNW

Link your Fred Meyer rewards card to support AIDNW.  

AIDNW will receive extra benefits if you start your purchases at Amazon Smile

amazon smile-logo

Donate
Provide food, clothing, and toiletries, or make a one-time or recurring cash donation to AIDNW

Become an sustaining donor
Recurring monthly donations help us enormously with operational costs

Our Wish List
Many needed items–and more–can be found on our Amazon Wish List