Join NMILC for a virtual orientation to our Volunteer Accompaniment Program. During the orientation, we will provide an overview of accompaniment, family preparedness, the volunteer responsibilities and expectations, and next steps for getting involved. We invite people to attend this orientation before committing to the volunteer role, so that they have a deeper understanding of the commitment before agreeing to it. Registration is required.
About Volunteer Accompaniment:
The Accompaniment Volunteer Role is part of NMILC's Family Preparedness program, which helps immigrant families plan for the care of their children, pets, property and belongings in case of a family member’s deportation or detention.
Accompaniment Volunteers play an integral role by prioritizing the impacted people’s safety and wellbeing, supporting them in creating an emergency family preparedness plan and establishing a “circle of protection” made up of the individual’s own trusted contacts. Volunteers also accompany NMILC clients or immigrant community members to their ICE check-ins or court hearings, and support with follow up as needed.
Who should attend
The orientation is open to anyone across New Mexico; however, we have a particular need for volunteers in Las Cruces and El Paso. Right now, we are prioritizing volunteers who speak Spanish fluently, though we welcome non-Spanish speakers to also share your interest.
For those who wish to commit to the accompaniment volunteer role, we will hold a more in-depth training on October 13 from 5-7 pm via Zoom.
Volunteer eligibility/expectations:
This program is intended for vetted volunteers with the demonstrated cultural awareness and commitment to centering the safety, agency, and well-being of immigrants.
For volunteers that will physically accompany an immigrant onsite to immigration court or an ICE office, we highly encourage this role solely for U.S. citizens. There are other ways you can volunteer with NMILC if you are not a U.S. citizen.
Immigrant accompaniment requires you to have flexible availability and reliable transportation to respond to accompaniment requests as we receive them. These requests may entail accompaniment to either immigration courthouse hearings or ICE check-ins.
Immigrant accompaniment requires you to use both Signal and WhatsApp messaging applications for secure and effective correspondence.
NMILC Accompaniment Volunteers must avoid engaging with ICE officers or other authorities while accompanying clients/community members; volunteers in this role must prioritize the wellbeing of the immigrant and therefore avoid agitating any agents present. While on-the-ground protest is an important aspect of the immigrant rights movement, volunteers in this role must not participate in such actions while actively engaging in accompaniment.
Volunteers are expected to share and maintain your own boundaries around levels of social or emotional support you are willing to provide.
Volunteers are asked to attend recurring accompaniment trainings to stay up to date on emergent needs or changes within the program, as well as participate in continued learning and political education.
Time commitment/expected hours of service:
~3-5 hours a week when actively assigned a case, opportunity for more if desired.
How this role helps further NMILC’s mission:
NMILC's mission is to advance justice and equity by empowering low-income immigrant communities through collaborative legal services, advocacy, and education. We are a 501(c)3 that collaborates closely with our partner organizations to meet the continuing and emergent needs of our community.