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Pilgrimage for a Better Future

The Pilgrimage for a Better Future: From the Heartbreak of Immigrant Detention to Thriving Communities was an interfaith, spiritual pilgrimage to bear witness to the preventable human suffering caused by immigrant detention in California, as a prayer for their closures, the safe releases of those on the inside, and the transformation and thriving of local communities in our state.

From May 28th, 2022 – June 1st, 2022, a group of 35 pilgrimage participants, comprised of community members who have been detained, faith leaders, and leaders in the movement to transform carceral systems, gathered together to undertake this journey. We stopped to gather in reflection, prayer and action at the seven ICE detention centers in the state and other significant sites along the way. These facilities detain thousands of immigrants in California each year, separating families and loved ones from their communities. Immigration detention does not need to exist and local communities are in dire need of different kinds of investments for a thriving and sustainable future.

The Pilgrimage was organized by the Interfaith Movement For Human Integrity, the Dignity Not Detention coalition, local community organizers, and the co-collaboration of each participant who joined us.


Resources

We invite you to read and share the Pilgrimage For a Better Future Resource Guide in English and Español with educational resources and ways to take action that congregations, school communities, and individuals can use.

We also invite you to use the Pilgrimage Social Media Toolkit to share the messages to end all immigrant detention. We have many specific calls to action that can be amplified.

Questions about the pilgrimage? Please contact Interfaith Movement For Human Integrity Executive Director Rev. Deb Lee. Media please contact Juan Prieto.

Pilgrimage Events, Livestreams and Photos

Saturday May 28th – Pilgrimage Launch and Prayer Ceremony at San Quentin State Prison
San Quentin, CA 94964
Watch the livestream.
Photos from the event.

Saturday May 28th – Prayer Ceremony in front of Yuba County Jail
215 5th St, Marysville, CA 95901
Watch the livestream.
Photos from the event.

Sunday May 29th – Prayer Ceremony in front of Mesa Verde ICE Processing Facility
425 Golden State Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Watch the livestream at Golden State Annex.
Watch the livestream at Mesa Verde.
Photos from the events.

Monday May 30th – Prayer Ceremony at Chicano Park and Otay Mesa Detention Facility
Chicano Park, San Diego, CA 92113
Watch the livestream at Chicano Park.
Watch the livestream at Otay Mesa Detention Facility (Part I).
Watch the livestream at Otay Mesa Detention Facility (Part II).
Photos from the events.

Tuesday May 31st – Prayer Ceremony in front of Imperial Regional Detention Facility
1572 Gateway Rd, Calexico, CA 92231
Photos from the events.

Tuesday May 31st – Prayer Ceremony in front of Adelanto Detention Center
10450 Rancho Rd, Adelanto, CA 92301
Watch the livestream.
Photos from the events.