First Friends: Into Action!

First Friends of New Jersey and New York provides visitors and other support within immigration detention centers, helps detainees who have been released, and advocates for a more just immigration system.

In this program you will learn about the operation of the largely for-profit detention system and what you can do to assist immigrants in detention. Several AC members visit detained immigrants with First Friends and have found this a deeply meaningful way to “welcome the stranger.”

Learn 
about the detention system and how to help. The program will include a Speaker and short film from First Friends, a brief talk by a recently released immigrant, and an opportunity for discussion and questions.

Act
 After learning about the issue, you will have the opportunity to take action. Action items will include writing notes and letters of support to people in detention, filling out postcards to elected officials advocating on behalf of detained immigrants, and learning about visiting detention centers or being a pen pal to a detained person.

Bring 
Items for the First Friends – Stamp Out Despair program:

• For people in immigration detention: paper, notecards, stamps, folders
• For recently released people: subway farecards, old cellphones, winter
  clothing