Visitation Program
Do I qualify to be a volunteer?
- Visitors must have valid government-issued identification with a photograph (in order to gain entrance to detention facilities).
- You must be at least 18 years of age. A minor is only allowed if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
- A past misdemeanor or felony conviction may disqualify you for service. Please inquire with DC DVN staff.
- You must be aware of your surroundings. You must be able to evacuate a detention facility without assistance in the event of an emergency. People who cannot meet these requirements can support people affected by detention in other roles, such as by writing letters and sending reading materials.
- You must have enough fluency in English to take directions from detention center officers and make yourself understood to officers and staff.
How do I become a Visitor Volunteer?
DC DVN Visitor Volunteers must complete the full DC DVN training program, which consists of one session, or certify that they are experienced at working with people in government custody or people affected by immigration enforcement actions. Please visit the Events section of this website for information about when training sessions will be held, and how to RSVP. DC DVN requests the visitor to be consistent in his/her visits with detained immigrants, with interest in making one visit per month for a period of at least 4 months. People in detention will request visitors, and DC DVN will connect trained volunteers with individuals in detention for initial visits. If there are no upcoming training sessions scheduled, please let us know you're interested by completing and submitting the VOLUNTEER APPLICATION FORM. After your application has been received a member of the DC DVN will be in touch to talk about next steps.
What is NOT expected of visitor volunteers?
A visitor is NOT a lawyer to help someone figure out how to get out of detention, NOT a mental health professional, NOT a social worker, NOT a reporter, NOT a missionary trying to convert detained immigrants, and NOT a source of financial support. Nevertheless, a visitor can help detained immigrants contact organizations that can provide legal, medical, psychological, or other assistance. Program leaders can help visitor volunteers locate these resources.
Positive Effects of Visiting Individuals in Detention
When you become a visitor volunteer, people in detention are not the only ones who benefit. Volunteers grow in their understanding of themselves and others, in their compassion for all people, and in their knowledge of our nation’s immigration system and its impact on American and immigrant families alike. Following are some testimonies from experienced visitors.
Testimonials
“I have changed myself so much, because it is really a great feeling to give unconditional love to someone in need, to someone who does not have another human being to care for them, to make them laugh in these hard difficult times, and to tell them stories about the weather, or family and kids.” - Melfi, Visitor Volunteer, New Jersey
“What I didn’t expect was that I, too, would get so much out of this program. These visits have allowed me into a different world of both hope and sadness. So many people suffer terribly in their own countries, and leave their homes and families to seek safety and freedom in the United States, only to end up in immigration detention. It is humbling to get to know a few of them. Learning about [their experiences] has enabled me to tell others...so hopefully they will be moved to do something about it, since with knowledge comes the possibility of change. While I continue to hope that my visits help the detained immigrants that I come to know, I know that they have enriched my life beyond what I’d ever imagined.” - Deborah Cooper, Visitor Volunteer, New York
Where We Visit
Currently, volunteers may visit people in detention at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement contract facilities Farmville (VA) Detention Center and Caroline (VA) Detention Facility.