Volunteers Pay Visit Eloy Detention Center

Young immigration advocates are volunteering to visit immigrants detained at Eloy Detention Center, an immigrant detention center that is located 65 miles southeast of Phoenix and houses more than 1,500 inmates. These volunteers meet with immigrants whom they have never met before, hoping to provide some assistance to these detained individuals, no matter how small the assistance may be. Eloy is probably the most controversial of the immigrant detention centers, due in large part to the fact that more deaths of detainees and suicides have occurred at Eloy than at any other immigrant detention facility. One student, a first-time volunteer for this program, was unable to elicit much conversation from the detainee to which she was assigned. She found the man’s silence to be indicative of his mistrust of her. She felt helpless, knowing that there was nothing that she could do for this man. Another volunteer is a former Eloy detainee and his wife, who help coordinate visits between volunteers and detainees. When he was detained, the visits from volunteers, despite the fact that they were from strangers, were helpful to him, especially when his own family members were unable to visit. Now that he is free, he is trying to give back to other detainees by participating in this volunteer program. The group gets the names of detainees who have not had many visitors from other detainees. The volunteers target these individuals for visits, hoping to at least provide some conversation and positive thoughts. The visits, in some cases, may help the detainees’ mental health, many of whom suffer from depression due to their predicaments. We are the deportation defense lawyers to whom you can turn if you or a loved one are facing deportation proceedings, no matter what the reason may be. Regardless of the complexity or difficulty of the situation, Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C. has the experience, knowledge, and skills to advocate on behalf of you and your family throughout the course of any deportation proceedings. Contact our office today and let us answer all of your questions about asylum proceedings, or any other aspect of deportation proceedings.