Advocates for Immigrants in Detention Northwest

Hospitality House

AIDNW leases a house in Tacoma, for immigrants released from the NW ICE Processing Center who need a place to stay for a day or two while family members make arrangements for their travel, or for up to six months for a limited number of immigrants who plan to stay in the area.

Those who need a place to stay for only a few hours while they wait for their family to come to pick them up. Our Host Coordinator lives at the house and is available nightly to assist guests. Masks are worn, social distancing is practiced, and sanitizing is done following CDC rules.

During their stay at Hospitality House these guests are matched with a volunteer buddy who meets with them on a weekly basis, takes them to their appointments, connects them with local agencies for additional legal and educational services, takes them grocery shopping, and helps them to get to know Tacoma.

Visitation Program

For 2 ½ years, in-person visits were not allowed because of the pandemic, and AIDNW volunteers turned instead to writing letters to detainees. We are happy to report that the NW ICE Processing Center is open again for in-person visits and our Visitation Program volunteers are back  inside!

AIDNW volunteers have been visiting detainees at the Northwest  ICE Processing Center  since 2013. Our Visitation Program expanded substantially in 2018, building on a positive relationship with detention center management. Detainees can now telephone AIDNW on a dedicated line to request a visitor. Requests have increased dramatically as a result, and we are actively recruiting and training more volunteers for the program in order to answer this need.

How can visits from a stranger help people in detention? 

The Center holds people for months before they are released or deported. Detainees must await the decision of an immigration judge while their case is pending, or for the final adjudication of their case that may or may not allow them to continue their lives in the U.S. Many detainees come from a great distance and do not have friends or family near enough to visit regularly. They may worry for families left without their support.  In the face of this uncertainty and isolation, friendly and consistent visits or correspondence from community members can provide a vital sense of connection to the outside world.

AIDNW Visitation Volunteers offer  listening ears and compassionate hearts in an act of friendship to reduce isolation and affirm each person’s human dignity and worth. Our volunteers are not attorneys or social workers, but are everyday citizens from all walks of life, who visit in an act of friendship, and the desire to affirm the human dignity and worth of every individual.

How does the Visitation Program work? 

AIDNW office volunteers receive requests from interested detainees and match requests with Visitation Program volunteers. Visitors then plan to send correspondence to their matched immigrant partner at least twice a month. Ideally, each match continues for the duration of the immigrant’s detention, but re-matches are made if a visitor must withdraw, or when either party requests an end to the match. It is not necessary for volunteers to be fluent in a language other than English.

Those interested in volunteering begin by attending an AIDNW volunteer orientation session, submitting a volunteer application, and undergoing a background check. One of our two visitation mentors then meet with new volunteers for one on one orientation and training. Quarterly meetings provide opportunities for Visitation Volunteers to ask questions and discuss any program changes.  Volunteers also share experiences through a Google group email list.

If you are interested  please email  officevolunteers@aidnw.org

Post-Detention Accompaniment Network
(PDAN)

AIDNW volunteer drivers serve a critical role by taking newly released immigrants from the Welcome Center to the airport, bus or train station, or to our Hospitality House.  A limited number of immigrants stay at Hospitality House for up to six months.  For these guests, PDAN volunteer drivers assist them in accessing services by providing transportation to:

• the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) office in Tacoma for food cards
• the ORCA lift  at DSHS for discounted bus passes (Thursdays only)
• World Relief offices in Kent for work permits, Social Security Cards, job placement, ESL classes, and permanent housing
• Tacoma Community House for work permits, Social Security cards, ESL classes and job placements
• Local medical facilities
• Local food banks
• The bus station for onward travel

AIDNW volunteers also offer the simple gifts of companionship and other welcoming support to our Hospitality House guests.
This can include:

• Taking guests on outings to the park, library, local theater, etc.
• Cooking a meal for guests
• Sharing a craft or skill
• Sorting donations of clothing, household items, toiletries, etc.
• Cleaning and doing laundry after each guest relocates
• Gardening and yard work

If you are interested in becoming a PDAN volunteer please contact Deborah Cruz dcruz@aidnw.org.

Phone Access

When immigrants are unable to hear the voices of family and friends because of a lack of resources, we end that silence by providing phone cards to connect them with the outside world.
In 2021, AIDNW provided $12,000 in phone cards to immigrants detained in the NWDC.

Books and Art Supplies

For immigrant detainees, the hours inside are long and stressful. Having books to read or supplies for artistic creations can help to fill the time. AIDNW has worked with ICE to get books into the NW ICE Processing Center and to establish an Art Supply Bank, the first of its kind that we know of inside an immigration detention center.
Donations are welcome! Donations may be shipped to our Hospitality House, 1915 S. Sheridan Ave., Tacoma 98405 or dropped off on Monday, Wednesday or Friday from 11:30-3:00 pm (see details below*). Paperback books in any language are welcome, so long as there is no writing or marking inside. For art supplies please see our Amazon Wishlist for acceptable items

*DIRECTIONS FOR DROPPING OFF ITEMS: Ring the doorbell and for social distancing keep 6 feet back . If no one answers put the packages inside the gate to the left of the door, or on the back porch and call 253-572-9659 to let the office know.