Conversations with Friends

WE ARE SO PLEASED TO REPORT HAVING JUST RECENTLY RECEIVED OUR FIRST-EVER MATCHING GRANT. EACH DONATION MADE THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2025, UP TO A GRAND TOTAL OF $25,000, WILL BE MATCHED DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR BY ANONYMOUS DONORS.  

ENDING ISOLATION BY VISITING AND SUPPORTING PEOPLE JAILED BY ICE IN MINNESOTA

Conversations with Friends (CWF) is an all-volunteer, humanitarian organization whose members support immigrants (undocumented non-citizens, asylum seekers and refugees) jailed by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in the Freeborn (Albert Lea), Kandiyohi (Willmar) and Sherburne (Elk River) County jails in Minnesota. 98 cents of each dollar we receive goes to assist the people we serve. In addition to our in-person Freeborn visits with those jailed at the Freeborn County Adult Detention Center, we have the privilege of writing weekly to people jailed by ICE in all three county jails. They are experiencing fear, loneliness, isolation, hopelessness, depression, trauma and/or emotional torture as they face likely separation from their family and friends. We offer friendship, fraternity and solidarity as we support, encourage, listen, affirm, recognize their dignity and advocate on their behalf. Thus, they come to know that people in the community truly care about them and that they are not alone, not abandoned.

Your financial gift to CWF enables us to:

1) Make modest commissary deposits to those who request economic assistance, primarily so they can call their family. For example, during November 2024, we are making commissary deposits averaging $10/week to about 150 people jailed by ICE in Minnesota. 

2) Respond to clothing requests from people who have been ordered deported. In 2024, we expect we'll drop off a total of about 210 'Dignity' backpacks at the Whipple Federal Building in Fort Snelling, up from 188 in 2023 and 69 in 2022, for people being deported. The empty backpacks cost an average of $35, the hygiene items, sunglasses and water bottle cost about $20, and the requested clothing (e.g., shirts, jeans, shoes, socks and underwear) costs about $90, for a total of about $145 per backpack. The backpacks also provide room for their legal documents.

Recently, the number of backpacks requests has spiked up to an annualized rate of 312. This number could easily double or even triple in 2025 if mass deportations become a reality.

3) Respond to occasional calls from ICE and immigration attorneys to help someone being released by ICE reach their final destination, oftentimes purchasing a bus ticket, driving them to the bus station and providing a 'Dignity' backpack as part of CWF’s Safe Release/Accompaniment Program.

In addition to our visits, CWF letter writers' weekly letters to their detained pen pals, our commissary deposits and 'Dignity' backpack program:

- We communicate the names, phone numbers and in-take hours of the pro bono immigration law firms in Minnesota as well as info about private attorneys and about the Minnesota Freedom Fund that may be able to provide assistance in paying bond if that is an option.

- We expeditiously fulfill specific book requests.

- CWF Birthday Club members send birthday cards to people jailed by ICE such that about six cards are received during their birthday week.

- CWF Sunshine Club members send cards of hope and encouragement to people who have been jailed for extended periods of time, letting them know that many people are thinking of them during these challenging times.

- We raise awareness by giving presentations to various communities.

Note, though, that this is not a one-sided relationship where one person is the giver and the other is the receiver. We CWF volunteers receive from those with whom we have the honor and distinct privilege of writing and visiting. The gifts we receive are opportunities:

- To come to realize that people jailed by ICE are not “the other” but rather unique, vulnerable human beings like us.

- To affirm others, acknowledging the injustice of our immigration system and the pain and suffering and emotional trauma of awaiting likely deportation.

- To be that person who figuratively puts a hand on someone’s shoulder, letting them know that members of the community care about their health and safety, something that is so very important, especially for people who have no one.

- To be warmly welcomed/accepted as visitors and letter writers into their space.

- To personally learn of the injustice and indecency of our immigration system that jails people who have usually already served their criminal sentence and accepts deportation and the resulting family separation as an allowable form of punishment.

- To advocate on their behalf, e.g., by calling senators, congresspeople, family, friends and others, educating them about the struggles and realities of those detained based on our first-hand, personal knowledge.

- To get a sense of our own privilege by witnessing the pain that others are experiencing.

- To be enlightened by other people’s perspectives.