Accompaniment
ICE check-ins and court dates can be overwhelming and uncertain. If you're concerned about being detained or feeling unsafe, a team of trained Allies is available to be with you and support you. You are not alone.
There is no cost and you are in control of what information is shared. We do not need to know:
- your immigration status
- how you arrived in the US
- your home address
- your workplace
We accompany people for many reasons:
- Each person matters. We can come alongside them as faithful witnesses to their story.
- If someone is detained, we can to alert the appropriate people so that kids can be picked up from school, dogs can be let out, and family members aren't left to wonder.
- We are demonstrating to ICE, DHS, and anyone watching that the person is a valuable part of our community and we are paying attention.
- There have been times when the pressure of the public being present has deterred deportation.
A protest
A chance to vent about immigration policies
A place to debate others
An opportunity to incite conflict with law enforcement
A transportation service
We are there in solidarity with the immigrant. We will not do (or tolerate) anything that might reflect poorly on that person or impede our ability to support them. This means we obey local laws, speak respectfully with DHS agents, and do not obstruct roadways.
1. Request an accompaniment. Typically, people request to be accompanied 1 - 6 weeks before their hearing. We connect with the person and gather basic information, including who should be notified in the unfortunate event that they are detained. We also give them information on who we are so they know who will meet them at their hearing.
2. We alert our team of Allies of the location, time, date of the hearing, as well as the first name of the person to be accompanied. We will also communicate any special circumstances, such as if the person we are accompanying has requested a smaller group, or if there is a specific place to park. Those that are unable to attend can still participate through prayer.
3. The day of the hearing, Allies meet the person we are accompanying outside of the building 30 minutes before their hearing. Based on their preferences, we may pray for them or they may share part of their personal story. Depending on the location, we may go in to the building when it is time for the hearing. However, for DHS checkins, this is not possible.
4. During the hearing we wait. Together, we continue to pray for the hearing, as well as for the judge, officials, and staff in the building. We choose to see them as people who deserve grace and safety, just like the person we are accompanying. While we wait, we also share stories, exchange resources and information, and make connections with others in attendance.
5. After the hearing, the person comes out of the building and we celebrate! They may or may not wish to share their experience about what happened inside. We pray for them one last time before we all go our separate ways.
That's the last official step in the process, but we hope it isn't the end of our relationship with that person. Several of the people we've accompanied have become friends that we continue to stay in contact with.
We will accompany any immigrant with an ICE check-in or hearing in the Greater Cincinnati area, if they are concerned they made be detained. They do not have to be Latino.
We are also building connections with Allies across the country and we hope to be able to support people in other parts of the country soon.
We will invite our network of trusted Allies and, when appropriate, ask them to invite others to show their support. We have had anywhere from 3 to 50 people attend. It largely depends on the immigrant's preferences. If they have deep connections in the community, we encourage them to invite others to join us.
If you are the person requesting the accompaniment, you are welcome to invite anyone you want!
Allies, we ask that you use your discretion when inviting others to join you. An accompaniment is an easy way for people who have mixed feelings about immigration to see the human side of the system. They do not have to agree with how someone came here or whether they should be permitted to stay in the US. However, they should adhere to our norms, which include:
- not sharing someone else’s photo, story, or personal information outside of the group without their permission.
- being led by curiosity, not judgment.
- listening and speaking with humility.
- respecting each other’s opinions and experiences.
- not using stereotypes, slurs, or derogatory terms.
We would love to accompany you. Please complete this form and a member of Latino Allies will reach out to you to discuss next steps.
We're glad you asked. Please fill out this form and we will be in touch with you shortly.
There are no language requirements for immigrants or people accompanying them. While we do have several in our ministry who speak Spanish, we can't guarantee their presence. Fortunately, technology makes it relatively easy for us to communicate, even without a shared language,
Accompaniments are peaceful and safe. You can bring your children!
Keep in mind, we are often standing near the side of a road, not inside of a building.
There is no dress code, but we ask that you dress in a way that reflects favorably on the immigrant. Probably leave your political t-shirts at home. Keep in mind, you may be standing outside for an hour or so. Dress accordingly.
Since beginning in April 2025, each person we have accompanied has come back out of the building. We have not seen anyone detained on the spot, and we hope it continues that way.
Accompaniment Request Form
Complete this form if you would like someone to go with you to an ICE check-in or hearing.