Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity coordinates the following programs in California to walk alongside people targeted by the immigration system:
- Nueva Esperanza – for the newly arrived immigrant
- Friends Afuera – writing letters to the detained
- Detainee Visitation – at Adelanto Detention Facility
Accompany Newly Arrived Immigrants
Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity’s Nueva Esperanza Accompaniment Team (NEAT) program trains congregations to form an accompaniment team to walk alongside recently arrived immigrants. The teams support the immigrants’ self-sufficiency by introducing them to local resources. By working toward families’ goals together, we create sanctuary, safety, and friendship in community.
Over the past five years, we have trained 260 volunteers who have formed 50 teams, to accompany 150 families and individuals!
If your faith community is interested, review these introductory materials and contact the coordinator, Kelly Younger, at <kyounger@im4humanintegrity.org>.
- Review these introductory materials to learn more about how to form an accompaniment team.Share the Flyer to recruit within your congregation to form a team of five.
- Review the Nueva Esperanza team requirements
- Watch the educational video: From Root Causes to Sanctuary
- Visit our calendar for upcoming trainings
- Register online for the next training. Registration Form
You may also wish to support the Nueva Esperanza Preschool, founded in 2015 for children of the indigenous Mam culture from Guatemala, by a Nueva Esperanza team in Oakland, CA.
Letter Writing & Monthly Donation
“BE A FRIEND TO IMMIGRANTS IN ICE DETENTION”
Friends Afuera (Friends Outside) is a program which connects volunteers with immigrants being held in detention by ICE. Many detained immigrants face isolation as a consequence of their unjust incarceration, separation from family, and the potential for indefinite and prolonged detention. By becoming a friend on the outside, you can help be a community of support with those incarcerated.
We support immigrants in the following detention centers:
- Adelanto, CA
- Mesa Verde in Bakersfield CA
- Yuba, CA
- Aurora, CO
- Tacoma, WA
- Cibola, NM
View and share the Friends Afuera Flyer
If you are interested, please email friendsafuera@im4humanintegrity.org to get matched.
Inland Empire: Adelanto Detention Facility
The main purpose of visiting immigrants in detention is to help end their isolation and let them know they are not forgotten. This calling requires pastoral work of presence where you are invited to show up, pay attention and listen deeply. It is humbling work where prayers and stories are shared, connections made and decisions taken by those impacted, to achieve the best possible outcome for the detainee and the family. The mission of visitation is to walk with the detained person and connect them to resources that will contribute to their release.
Accompaniment Teams
- Create an immigrant support team in your congregation that responds to unique immigration family crisis
- Form an accompaniment team for a specific family that has a loved one in detention and provide immigrant support and accompaniment
- Form a visitations team that will visit immigrant detainees to help end their isolation and let them know they are not forgotten.
Please contact Hilda Cruz, hcruz@im4humanintegrity.org
