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 2:30 – 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, supportive environment until reunification with loved ones can happen
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
Interested in working with AIDNW?
Current Program Manager Deborah Cruz will become our new Executive Director on October 1st! We are delighted, and grateful for her continued leadership. This means we are hiring a new Program Manager. Plus we also have openings on our Board. Please see GET INVOLVED for details.
News and Events
ASYLUM SEEKERS BEING RELEASED IN LARGE NUMBERS !
June 2022: Large numbers of asylum seekers are being brought from the southern border to Tacoma and released from the detention center—15 – 25 people each day. ICE has told AIDNW that this is expected to continue through the Summer. This is double the average number of guests normally served at the AIDNW Welcome Center.
Our volunteers are working in shifts at the AIDNW Welcome Center from 2:30 to 7 PM Monday through Friday and sometimes later, helping guests plan travel all over the country to reach their family members.
This uptick in guests is straining our resources, and ICE has told us that this level of releases is expected to continue indefinitely.
We need:
- Volunteer drivers
- Welcome Center volunteers
- Backpacks
To volunteer please fill out a volunteer application here LINK . To donate backpacks or other needed supplies, or funds to assist our operations, please see our Amazon wish list and donation link details: aidnw.org/how-to-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.
AIDNW is on Radio Tacoma!
AIDNW Monthly Reports are a new feature on Radio Tacoma.
Tune in to hear the reports, which feature monthly program statistics, excerpts from nightly Welcome Center reports, interviews and more
You can listen to the reports at https://radiotacoma.org/aidnw
or, if you are in the vicinity of Tacoma Mall, tune into Radio Tacoma at 101.9 FM on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 5 pm or Wednesday at 7 pm.
Program archives are available anytime at https://radiotacoma.org/aidnw
2022 Newsletters
2021 Newsletters
2020 Newsletters
2019 Newsletters
PowerPoint Presentation on AIDNW Services
AIDNW was featured on KGHP Radio's Harbor Chat!
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
Community Meetings
Join Our Mailing list
Please fill out our mailing list form to be added to the AIDNW mailing list to receive the latest information on volunteer work, community meetings, and events/opportunities:
Next Community Meeting
September 21
9:30 – 11:00 a.m
Our guest speaker will be Caitlin Wasley of Refugee Women’s Alliance (ReWA) in Seattle. She has worked in refugee and immigrant services since 2009
Please save the date
The meeting will be held in person or by Zoom. Please email officevolunteer@aidnw.org to register and receive a link
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 March 16th, 2022
Featuring 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 Community Mtg August 18, 2021
Three presentations on the immigrant detainees held and released from the Northwest ICE Processing Center
AIDNW Community Mtg June 16, 2021
Guest Speaker Stephanie Murray, detention center post release coordinator for World Relief
AIDNW Community Mtg April 21, 2021
"Passages: Immigrant Experiences" by the artist Patti Kilpatrick and poet William (Bill) Fay
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.
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