The DC Detention Visitation Network
The DC Detention Visitation Network
  • Home
  • About
  • Our Activities
  • Visitation Program
  • Pen Pal Program
  • Advocacy
  • Events
  • Links to Resources
  • Contact
  • More
    • Home
    • About
    • Our Activities
    • Visitation Program
    • Pen Pal Program
    • Advocacy
    • Events
    • Links to Resources
    • Contact
  • Home
  • About
  • Our Activities
  • Visitation Program
  • Pen Pal Program
  • Advocacy
  • Events
  • Links to Resources
  • Contact

Our Activities

Detention Visitation

Detention Visitation

Detention Visitation

We make social visits to people who are detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Find out more

Pen Pal Program

Detention Visitation

Detention Visitation

Letters offer solace, encouragement, and a very real connection to the outside world in the middle of a very difficult time in someone’s life. When writing to men and women in detention, you are making a human connection across the walls and barbed wire.

Find out more

Advocacy/Education

Detention Visitation

Advocacy/Education

A natural outgrowth of our work is increasing awareness of immigration detention and the difficulties encountered by those trying to live in the United States.

Find out more

More Ways To Help People Affected By Immigration Detention

Contact your representatives in government.

Even if you've done so before it matters and registers when you take the time to ask your elected officials for something specific. 

  • Ask federal Congressional representatives to change immigration law to limit and eliminate use of immigration detention, cut funding for it, end mandates around minimum number of spaces available, and require DHS to grant advocates and community stakeholders broad access to any detention facilities that remain in operation.
  • Ask State and local representatives to mandate public access to detention facilities, strengthen oversight and inspections, and prohibit private detention facilities as well as prevent counties and cities from contracting with DHS to supply immigration detention space. 

Raise funds for bonds and legal representation.

Family members who are impoverished when breadwinners are detained are also in need of help meeting basic needs. You can find a list of bond funds that can accept donations here. 

Sponsor someone eligible for release.

There is a consistent need for people to provide a place to live and help with basic needs for people who may not be legally authorized to work while pursuing requests for status in immigration court, or for people who are just getting on their feet after having been granted status.

Facilitate a discussion or presentation about immigration detention.

Help raise awareness of immigration detention and its consequences by suggesting, hosting, and leading talks about the system and the people affected by it among potentially interested groups of people that you work or socialize with (your church, a social or community club, school communities, families, etc.). Feature the voices and testimony of people who have been and are detained.

Volunteer to answer calls from detention.

Freedom for Immigrants, which operates a hotline that people in immigration detention can call for free, is especially looking for Haitian Creole-speaking volunteers. A role description for hotline operators can be found here.  

Check out related volunteer networks.

Sanctuary DMV

Copyright © 2022 The DC Detention Visitation Network - All Rights Reserved.

Powered by GoDaddy