Accompaniment

Intentionally practicing presence of mind and body in order to prioritize transformational human connection, recognize and diminish the harmful impacts of privilege and bias, and lay foundations for collective power-building that overthrow destructive systems

Across the country, there have been cases of immigrants being detained after going for routine check-ins at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) offices. In some cities, a successful tool to protect against this threat to due process has been to organize volunteer groups to accompany individuals to these check-ins. 

What is accompaniment?

For IFCLA, accompaniment is both a mindset and a ministry. We believe the goal of accompaniment is to walk alongside someone in their journey, acknowledging mutuality in the struggle for justice. IFCLA’s commitment to including clergy or people of faith and goodwill in all accompaniment teams is an expression of prophetic resistance to policies and laws that are not compatible with our values.

In day-to-day practice, accompaniment means being present with immigrants when they present themselves for check-ins at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office or the office of BI Incorporated, a subsidiary of the GEO Group, the private contractor who administers ICE's Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP). Many people in the ISAP program are forced to wear ankle monitors, and IFCLA’s accompaniment has led to furthering efforts to have these ankle monitors removed through direct petition to ICE. Read more about our efforts with Migrantes Unidos here.

How does accompaniment impact community members?

By volunteering to accompany migrants to immigration check-ins, we show solidarity and offer comfort and company to help ease some anxiety of interacting with the legal system. Volunteers’ presence is also effective in reducing the likelihood of maltreatment or even detention, as non-immigrant presence often serves as an accountability measure for ICE and ISAP offices. In the least fortunate scenarios, accompaniment involves the necessary practice of keeping relatives and/or lawyers informed in case the individual is detained.

To date, over 59 asylum seekers who are regularly accompanied by IFCLA volunteers have had their ankle monitors removed. IFCLA has trained over 260 volunteers, over 100 of whom are currently committed to regularly attending check-ins. In 2019 alone, we practiced solidarity with asylum seekers during 480 check-ins and ankle monitor removal requests at ICE and ISAP offices, averaging about 60 accompaniments per month by December. Some groups of volunteers have committed themselves to accompanying the same asylum seekers month after month to their routine check-ins.

How can I get involved?

New accompaniment trainings occur regularly, and partner organizations work to spread the word through immigrant communities that this program exists and is available to all. To stay informed on future accompaniment trainings, for more information, or to ask questions, contact us!

Last Updated: 07/26/2022