We are Conversations with Friends (CWF). We’ve been pen pals and visitors with people jailed by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in Minnesota since March 2011. Our mission is to offer friendship, fraternity and solidarity as we support, encourage, listen to, affirm, recognize their dignity, and advocate for those jailed by ICE. Through our peaceful, compassionate presence, they know that people in the community truly care, that they are not alone and that we agree that the U.S. immigration system of detention and deportation is unjust and inhumane, often resulting in family separation.
At this time, our primary need is for Spanish letter writers. There is also a need for Arabic, Russian and Karen writers. We are thankful that we already have an abundance of English writers at this time.
Typically, people are in ICE detention for one-three months. But if either the government or the immigrant appeals the immigration judge’s decision, the person could be detained for another six months while the case goes to the Board of Immigration Appeals. So, before accepting to write to a new pen pal, our CWF letter writers make the commitment to write a weekly letter for as long as their pen pal is jailed by ICE, whether it’s for a month or eight months or more.
Thank you so much for your consideration! If interested, please email us at CWFconversationswithfriends@gmail.com and provide:
a) Your full name, mailing address and cell phone number
b) Languages spoken
c) How you heard about CWF
CWF 