VISITATION PROGRAM: AIDNW Volunteers Visiting Immigrants in Detention
One of the most important services in AIDNW is our visitation program, where volunteers receive training and support to visit immigrants waiting for court dates inside the detention center.
All our services into detention help combat the loneliness, frustration, and boredom that come with long periods of detention. Knowing that someone cares about them and is willing to take the time to write can make a profound difference in their experience.
If you have language skills, consider taking a moment to volunteer with the AIDNW Visitation Program, or donate to the office and coordination expenses associated with the program.
PEN-PAL Program: AIDNW Volunteers Writing to Immigrants in Detention
Another fundamental service to help immigrants inside the facility is our pen-pal program. Immigrants write letters to AIDNW, and our volunteers respond, offering companionship, encouragement, and a reminder that they are not alone. For many detainees, the uncertainty of their situation can be overwhelming, and the simple act of receiving a letter can bring a sense of hope and comfort during an incredibly difficult time.
Through this program, volunteers build meaningful connections with detainees, offering emotional support and a listening ear. These letters may include words of encouragement, uplifting stories, or simply friendly conversation to help ease the stress of waiting. Many immigrants in detention face months of isolation with limited contact with the outside world, making the pen-pal program a crucial source of human connection.
Volunteer as a Pen-Pal, or donate to office expenses associated with the AIDNW Pen-Pal Program.
BOOKS, PUZZLES & CARE PACKAGES: Gathering Tangible Items for Immigrants In Detention
Detained persons must await the decision of an immigration judge while their case is pending and may not have friends or family near enough to visit regularly. AIDNW volunteers work to get books and puzzles into the detention center for those fighting boredom as they wait for months and sometimes years.
AIDNW volunteers also put together a care package whenever an immigrant notifies us that they are scheduled for deportation. These backpacks full of items to help them travel in a bit more comfort is a way to let immigrants know that Americans care.
Volunteer with the AIDNW Books, Puzzles & Care Package Program, or donate to expenses associated with the program like items to include in deportation bags.
PHONE FUNDS: Office Volunteers Depositing Allocated Funds into Detained Immigrant Accounts
Phone calls within the detention center are not free, making it difficult for immigrants to hear the voices of the outside world. Detained immigrants can call the AIDNW Hotline to request phone funds to contact family, friends, or legal help. This is nearly the largest monthly expense for AIDNW, and we often run out of funds before the end of each month. We encourage your donation to help us extend this service to every day of the year, and we thank funders including the City of Tacoma which provided $10,000 to our phone fund over the past year.
Volunteer in the office helping our Operations Manager deposit funds into immigrant phone accounts, or donate to the fund and help make someone’s day in detention brighter.
BETWEEN 2019-2023:
20,327
Number of immigrant services provided
6,021
Number of immigrants welcomed
IN NOVEMBER 2024:
291
Volunteer Hours
70
Immigrants served through our Welcome Center
GET INVOLVED
© 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.