Our Resilient Voices Organizer, Miriam Scheetz, leads with compassion to support immigrants detained under ICE custody. On the day-to-day, Miriam answers calls and provides immigrants with guidance in navigating their cases. Miriam works with our Deportation Defense Director, Lizbeth Abeln, to successfully find individuals' legal representation and other resources. When immigrants are released they have basic needs that need to be met. This includes hot meals, hygienic items, clothes, phones to communicate with family or friends, short-term housing, transportation, legal help to obtain a work permit, and other costs that come with reunification with their families. We hope to welcome immigrants in a humane and dignified way and we do this thanks to our coalition and supporters.

Since 2020, ICIJ has continued to run a commissary fund which is funded by our small donor donations. We have served almost 200 individuals with an average of $30 commissary gift. This is important for immigrants in detention because they can have access to edible food, snacks, medicine, and printing services while inside. If you’d like to donate, please Venmo @IC4IJ with “Commissary” in the subject line.

The Resilient Voices Program is a re-entry type program hosted by the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice and the ACLU of Southern California designed to assist formerly detained immigrants in overcoming institutional barriers they face as they transition back to their communities. This program is meant to provide individuals the necessary tools and resources to empower them in their journey to find healing, safety, and self determination. This is a 2 month program open to formally detained immigrants who reside in the Inland Empire.

REQUIREMENTS
1. Resident of San Bernardino or Riverside County
2. Person has been detained by ICE; Priority to those detained in Adelanto.
3. Will not miss more than 2 sessions.

PROGRAM INFORMATION
Session Dates: June 20th, 2022-August 30th, 2022 


Session Topics: Group Therapy and One on One healing sessions, Post Conviction Relief, Know Your Rights, Deportation Defense 101, Media and Communications 101 and more.

Immigrants who are incarcerated or formerly incarcerated in ICE jails continue to experience trauma, unemployment, and medical/mental health care issues. Our communities and nonprofit organizations have taken on the responsibility of ensuring that individuals have access to the most basic needs. With individuals still facing long periods of incarceration and deportation threats, ICIJ commits to providing support to individuals currently or formerly detained at the Adelanto Detention Center, the largest detention facility in the nation.

If you are formerly incarcerated, residing in the Inland Empire, and interested in receiving support please contact lizbeth@ic4ij.org