OUR IMPACT – Over 15 Years

Supporting Immigrants Seeking a Better Life

The Northwest ICE Processing Center (NWIPC) is a federal ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington, operated by the privately owned GEO Group. As the fourth largest immigration detention center in the United States, its capacity is 1,575 detained immigrants.

Immigrants, mostly asylum seekers, arrive at the Tacoma detention center from all over the world. Upon arrival, their personal belongings are removed, and they must wear a uniform. Detained immigrants pay for phone use to contact family or legal help for their asylum cases. They must purchase personal items at the commissary. Most have not experienced detention, thus feel vulnerable and isolated. Detained persons often wait weeks, months, or even years for release, either on asylum or to await their case processing with family or sponsors.

AIDNW’s immigrant assistance programs have immediate positive impact for immigrants detained in and released from the NWIPC, by connecting them to family, resources, and to our community.

HOW HAVE WE BEEN DOING?

Founders of AIDNW started meeting with one another in 2005 as part of community immigration roundtables, and in 2009, we incorporated as a Washington State non-profit organization. In 2014, volunteering increased to the point that we could offer daily services to immigrants in detention and those turned out onto the street upon release. Between 2019-2023, thanks to our generous donors, dedicated staff, visionary volunteer board members, and over 200 enthusiastic volunteers giving 46,921 hours, AIDNW statistics show provided 20,327 services to detained and released immigrants from over 110 countries worldwide.

Top regions by percentage of total immigrants since 2019:

Latin America & Caribbean 62%

Asia & Pacific Islands 26%

Africa 8%

Eastern Europe 1.3%

Middle East 1.3%

Europe, Canada, Unknown 1.4%

Newly released immigrants, happy to leave the ICE detention center, call family enabled by volunteers at the AIDNW Welcome Center.

6,021

Immigrants Welcomed

5,205

Immigrants Transported

4,371

Immigrants Visited or Received Letters

4,048

Immigrants Received Phone Funds

625

Immigrants Provided Temporary Housing

Countries of Origin since 2019 – Immigrants Served in Tacoma:

BETWEEN 2019-2023:

20,327

Number of immigrant services provided

6,021

Number of immigrants welcomed

IN NOVEMBER 2024:

291

Volunteer Hours

Immigrants served through our Welcome Center

IMMIGRANT STORIES

Hanan’s Success Story – Why Giving Tuesday Is Critical

December 3, 2024

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Giving Tuesday Featured Story - Stand with AIDNW as we provide vital services to immigrants like Hanan who escaped an abusive situation in her home country.

Elmer from Cuba

October 13, 2023

I was born in a small town in Cuba and owned two small businesses. Due to threats of prison and extreme political oppression, my wife and I decided I should try to immigrate to the U.S. to find a more secure life for our family.

Joyce from Kenya

September 1, 2023

“I left Kenya because I was involved in the August 2022 presidential election; the political party I supported didn’t win. Some people from the party that won made threats against people in my political party. I did not feel safe.”

Pedro from Venezuela

August 2, 2023

I left my home in Venezuela on the 21st of December of 2021 and I entered the United States on December 25th where I endured a difficult and complicated process of detention.

Rama from Nepal

July 1, 2023

On a cold and windy November day, as the light was fading, Rama, an eighteen-year-old man from Nepal, walked out of the Northwest Ice Processing Center in Tacoma, WA, with no jacket on, wearing only a T-shirt.

Dmitry & Family from Ukraine

June 1, 2023

In 2018 , Dmitry and his wife traveled from Ukraine and crossed the US southern border together where they requested asylum. Dmitry was then sent to the Northwest ICE detention center in Tacoma, but his wife, who was pregnant, was sent to an ICE facility in Texas, then released. Dimitry did not know where she was -- ICE would not tell him.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Where do immigrants go after they are released from the NW ICE Processing Center?

AIDNW trained volunteers greet released immigrants at the Welcome Center RV just outside the NWIPC release gate. Volunteers provide snacks, beverages, backpacks, and clothing as needed; they charge releasee’s phones to connect with their family or sponsors; then volunteers help arrange their travel by air or land, transporting them to the airport, bus or train stations. Nearby relatives can also arrive to pick them up.

Does ICE provide phone call access for detained immigrants at the NWIPC?

Phones are available inside the NWIPC, but it costs money to make a call. Detained immigrants can call the AIDNW Hotline to request phone funds to contact family, friends, or legal help. AIDNW can provide phone cards in $20 denominations for up to one hundred detainees each month.

Is my donation tax deductible?

Yes, your donation to AIDNW is tax deductible as allowed by law. Advocates for Immigrants in Detention Northwest is a nonprofit, tax exempt charitable organization (EIN # 27-1031009) under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Can I donate for a specific program or item that’s needed?

Yes, you can donate specific items of clothing, backpacks, shoes, and arts and crafts supplies via AIDNW’s Amazon Wish List.

Who can receive AIDNW services?

AIDNW serves people detained in the NW ICE Processing Center, and those who are newly released. AIDNW also provides temporary housing to immigrants without a sponsor or family in the area and connects them with other organizations for legal and resettlement services.

Are all AIDNW services provided free?

Yes, all AIDNW services are provided free of charge to people detained in and newly released from the NWIPC in Tacoma, WA.

What kind of training do volunteers receive?

AIDNW offers onsite training for new volunteers at the Welcome Center. We explain everything from set up to take down and various situations that occur in between. Volunteers receive informational materials and learn procedures. For volunteers visiting detained immigrants inside the NWIPC, we provide protocols for visiting immigrants, tips on conversations, and meet the new volunteer at the detention center for their first visit.

What is the time commitment for volunteers?

We offer flexible options to accommodate our volunteers. Some volunteers complete one shift per month at the Welcome Center while others choose to volunteer daily or every week. Shifts are from 2-6 p.m. or 3 p.m. to close at 7 p.m. Visitations inside the NWIPC are limited to one hour by ICE and we suggest a minimum of one visit or more every two weeks. Other volunteer hours, such as in the office or on a committee, will vary depending on the tasks offered by the volunteer.

What are the requirements to volunteer?

An interest in helping immigrants new to our country will align with our mission. Fluency in a foreign language is often useful, but not necessary, since AIDNW has volunteer interpreters on call when required.

Are any children detained at the NWIPC?

No, minors are not detained at the NWIPC.

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