Hundreds of thousands of immigrants move through the federal detention system each year. The larger detention centers, such as the one in Tacoma, have their own courts.
When I started as a visitation volunteer with AIDNW, I was a bit nervous. I’m not the world’s greatest conversationalist; I had no idea how it would go.
Not all AIDNW volunteers are out at the Welcome Center greeting released immigrants five days a week, coordinating their travel plans, or driving immigrants to the airport.
Taking people to the airport to fly to their sponsor’s US city gives me an opportunity to talk with them and make personal connections. Tension can be released a bit in joking conversation enroute.
I’ve had the privilege of being an AIDNW Welcome Center volunteer for about three years. I heard an AIDNW radio story, and I knew I wanted to get involved. This has been the best volunteer job I’ve ever had!
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.
I met a man, originally from Mexico, who had been brought by his parents to the US as a 7-year-old child. In his thirties he was picked up by ICE in the Northwest US after a traffic violation and sent to the detention center because he was “undocumented”.
“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.”
My interest in immigration issues was triggered by Joe Arpaio’s reign of terror among immigrants and the fascistic “Papers Please” law (SB1070) passed by the Arizona Senate in 2010.
Last October, the Community Outreach Committee of nonprofit Advocates for Immigrants in Detention Northwest (“AIDNW”) organized a warm coat drive so immigrants held in the NW Ice Processing center could “feel the warmth” of the South Sound community instead of the usual northwest rain and wind when released.
© Copyright 2025. All rights reserved. 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. Donations are U.S. tax-deductible as allowed by law. Web Development by Unnaturally Geisha Studios, Inc. Photography by Uhler Photography.