ABOUT THE DC DVN

---

AS OF SEPTEMBER 2024, THE DC DETENTION VISITATION NETWORK HAS PAUSED ACTIVE ORGANIZING. PLEASE SEE "OUR ACTIVITIES" FOR ALTERNATE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES.

is to provide friendship and support to people in immigration detention.

members of DC, Maryland, and Virginia communities who are concerned about the welfare of people affected by immigration detention. We make social visits to people who are detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). On any given night many thousand people are held in custody in private and public facilities scattered around the country.

Many immigrants in detention do not have family or friends who can visit them. It is common for people in immigration custody to be held in a location distant from where they lived or worked. Visits from community members give people in detention a break, boost their morale, and help individuals refocus their emotions on positive relationships while in detention.

There are many opportunities to volunteer with DC DVN, including as a detention visitor, a pen pal, or as a voice for the voiceless, by speaking with others in our community about the immigration detention system and the experiences of people being held in ICE custody.