I enjoy volunteering with AIDNW as a post-detention accompaniment driver. 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 give them their final “positive push” and goodbye, dropping them off at a TSA checkpoint at the airport.

Many immigrants aren’t familiar with the complexity of navigating a large American airport.Prior to getting them to the TSA checkpoint, there can be struggles with ticketing or baggage. Most immigrants are not proficient in English so it could be difficult to quickly solve problems to avoid missing their flight. I help them by translating between English and Spanish and describe how to get to their gate after TSA.

I spend maybe one evening every week or two as a transport volunteer. It’s not a lot of time or “work”, but the immigrants are so grateful. I think that maybe a lot of immigrants, once they get back on their feet, will also think about “giving back”. They are so thankful for AIDNW’s help. It is nice to know that I’m giving new arrivals to this country one of their first positive impressions of Americans, contrary to what they’ve probably experienced with Border Control, ICE, and our judicial immigration systems.

A while ago, a Mexican man, whom I was taking to the airport, responded to me after I said something about his airplane trip being the last hurdle before he could start his new life and be with his family. He responded saying, “I am already in my new life and now everything is looking up.” I like that AIDNW helped him to feel that way.