The Midwest Immigration Bond Fund hopes to share stories of how the immigration court and ICE system affects individuals and families from Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Kentucky.
El Fondo de Fianzas de Inmigración del Medio Oeste espera compartir historias de cómo la corte de inmigración y el sistema ICE afectan a las personas y familias de Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin y Kentucky.
Faith and Justice in Dane Co., Wisconsin
Ambassador Rabbi Bonnie Margulis joins us as part of the Wisconsin Faith Voice for Justice and the Dane Sanctuary Coalition. The Dane Sanctuary Coalition was born in the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election to provide sanctuary for the immigrant community in Dane County, Wisconsin. Read more at our blog!
Fianza Friday: July 23, 2021
Jesse Johnson co-vice president of MIBF baked a pie with some left over scraps and made a message to share #AbolishICE. This is in line with our July messaging where last week we shared the guide from the National Bail Fund Network on Ending Immigration Detention and a couple weeks ago a blog post on how Alternatives to Detention are Detention. #FreeThemAll
Fianza Friday: July 16, 2021
We’re excited to share a guide from National Bail Fund Network titled End Immigration Detention & Free Them All: An Abolitionist Messaging Guide on Immigration Bond. Read more above!
Fianza Friday: July 9, 2021
At the end of May we announced that our bond application was closed. We have since raised over $5,000 and have continued posting bonds (14th bond posted!) and we hope to raise $50,000 by the end of the summer. Please support us today by making any donation you feel you can share, link in blog post!
Alternatives To Detention Are Still Detention
Board Member Sara Zaleta reflects on alternatives to detention still being a means of surveillance and its effects on the immigrant community. Read more above!
Reflecting on Pride Month: An Interview with Alejandra*
Ambassador Carlina Green interviews Alejandra* a beneficiary of the MIBF where Alejandra speaks about her experience as an LGBTQIA+ immigrant. Read the interview at the link above!
Detention is Family Separation
Ambassador Melanie Minuche reflects on family separations caused by the detention system. As she explains, it’s a system that “has never been a fair nor equitable pathway to justice” considering the “methods of suffering and silencing extend into the separated family members.” Join Melanie’s call to help envision a world without detention and donate today to help lessen someone's family separation.
Juneteenth and How You Can Support Black Immigrants Today.
In honor of Juneteenth next week, Board member Hannah Cartwright shares with you organizations that she and we at MIBFC are grateful for such as the Black Alliance for Just Immigration and Undocublack. These organizations, along with other leaders across the U.S., continue to highlight the inequities in the length of detention and bond amounts for black immigrants. Please read more at our blog!
All We Have Left Is Humanity
Colin reflects on his career working with asylum seekers with the Interfaith Community for Detained Immigrants that has led to his joining the board at MIBFC. Colin is a monthly donor to the MIBFC because, as he states, he has “witnessed the freedom of leaving ICE detention” for 13 people so far since February 2021 and wants to continue helping as much as he can. Please join Colin in donating today and read more today.
Fianza Friday: May 28, 2021
We recently closed our bond app after 13 bonds. We are grateful for your support. Please join us in a one time donation or becoming a monthly donor, no amount is too small. 100% of your money goes to the release of an individual, reuniting them with family and giving them the opportunity to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine. Read more here about the lack of COVID-19 vaccines in detention facilities here.
We Belong In Community
MIBFC board member Michael Aguhar reflects on his work with the Filipino community that has now led him to joining the board at MIBFC to dismantle harmful systems and replace them with life-affirming institutions.
Local Sunday School in Nashville, IN Takes Action
Ambassador Denny Kubal spoke to his Methodist Sunday School Group in Nashville, Indiana about the MIBFC’s work and has helped raise over $2,380. During Denny’s presentation, folks learned how between 2009-2020, 88% of all immigrants in immigration court appeared at all of their hearings*, questioning the need for immigration detention.
Fianza Friday: May 7, 2021
According to TRAC at Syracuse University, there were approximately 13,529 individuals in ICE detention as of February 2021. With support from you, the MIBFC has now posted the bonds of 10 individuals and has raised over $35,000!
Immigration Bonds: Barriers to Reunification
With Mother’s Day around the corner, MIBFC ambassador Alison Siczek, reflects on her time as an immigration attorney working with detained individuals, particularly mothers who cannot afford their immigration bonds. This barrier is so frustrating and why immigration detention should be abolished.
Fianza Friday: April 23, 2021
Hope that ur all able to take time for yourself this weekend. With that said, we are grateful to have completed our 3rd ambassador training!
Fianza Friday: April 16, 2021
We have hit our $25,000 goal! Thank you. Please become a monthly donor today to help us continue posting bonds on behalf of the detained community in WI, IL, IN, & KY!
Disabled and Detained
Michelle Garcia, MIBFC board member and Latinx and Immigration Community Organizer at Access Living, reflects to the 2019 Disability and Immigration Summit in support of persons with disabilities in detention/jail.
Hanging Cranes & Stars: Finding Strength To Survive
Claudia Valenzuela shares how during her time as an attorney, has witnessed immigration detention inflict punishment, lead to violating due process rights, and causing physical, emotional, and psychological trauma to individuals. In the end, Claudia has seen her clients continue to find strength to fight back.
Let My People Go
The immigration committee at the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs recently helped raise over $6,500 for the MIBFC! We are grateful for JCUA’s commitment to the immigrant community. Read JCUA Organizer Rebecca Lubow’s blog post as she reflects on passover and immigration detention.
ICE Injustices Continue, Despite the New Biden Administration
Fianza Friday: March 19, 2021, Read Miguel and Laura's story on our blog about how Miguel spent 46 days in a jail after a wellness check led to an arrest for a small amount of marijuana on Miguel.