Immigrant Families Together General Fund
NONE of the IFT volunteers are paid.
We are NOT a 501(c)3 organization.
In the meantime, GoFundMe.org is proud to act as fiscal sponsor to Immigrant Families Together, given the important charitable services it is providing to an important charitable class of people. GoFundMe.org is a 501c3 non-profit organization (EIN #81-2279757) and solely responsible for the collection and management of your donations in support of the charitable services described here. All donations may be eligible for tax-exemption, and GoFundMe.org will issue donation receipts on a quarterly basis.
ALL of your funds will go directly to rapid response needs.
We no longer use Amazon wishlists to support our families.
We cannot accept donations of any kind earmarked for an individual family.
We have applied for 501c3 status, the application is pending authorization.
How We MakE A Difference Together
The Gift of Freedom
To date we have reunited more than 88 families totaling well over $500,000 to give immigrant families the gift of freedom from detention prisons and foster care across the country.
Bonds typically range from $1500 - $30,000 per person. We have freed mothers, sisters, fathers, brothers, adult children. The highest bond we have paid is $40,000.
We also try to find pro bono or deeply discounted immigration specialists to represent our families in their lengthy and complicated asylum proceedings.
Now that freedom from detention is secured for these families, donations are essential in helping them survive until they are eligible for work permits.
This donation gift is representative of our programs and needs. Your gift will be used where our most immediate need is at the moment.
The Gift of Detention Support
Detention support is one of the most overlooked needs for asylum seeking immigrants.
Without this support most have no contact with the outside world and while there are lists posted on the wall of attorneys, they have no money to call them and when they do- they must choose between food or necessities and a phone call to family or advocate/attorney.
We also provide support to those families who lose an asylum seeking loved one while in detention to help defray the costs of obtaining the remains which can cost in excess of $6000 in addition to funeral expenses.
This donation gift is representative of our programs and needs. Your gift will be used where our most immediate need is at the moment.
Gift of Legal Counsel
Legal counsel is vital to navigate the complicated asylum process. While we do seek pro bono counsel, most immigration attorneys have more than exhausted their budget for giving free counsel.
Your donation also provides the costs associated in obtaining:
- birth certificates
- copies of affidavits and other legal documentation required
- passports
With this gift you give a real chance of a successful asylum case.
This donation gift is representative of our programs and needs. Your gift will be used where our most immediate need is at the moment.
Gift of Reunification
In special cases we need to purchase reunification bus and airline tickets when we cannot find donors with miles and it doesn't fall under the parameters of our partner, Miles4Migrants.
There is also a need to provide transportation to legal and medical appointments when our volunteers cannot assist.
This donation gift is representative of our programs and needs. Your gift will be used where our most immediate need is at the moment.
The Gift of Rent & Utilities
Housing and utilities are the most expensive budget item each month outside of the payment of bonds. The average rent is $1500 per month, plus utilities.
In addition to rent there are also monthly expenses:
- electricity
- heat
- water.
Most of our families are not eligible for work permits for nearly a year. They need stable and safe housing.
Your gift provides just that!
This donation gift is representative of our programs and needs. Your gift will be used where our most immediate need is at the moment.
The Gift of Healthy Food
Each family grocery budget is approximately a
minimum of $400+ per month, depending on location and number of family members. Your gift towards groceries provides nutritious food every day, something families were denied while in detention and in their home countries.
With this gift you ensure no one goes hungry.
This donation gift is representative of our programs and needs. Your gift will be used where our most immediate need is at the moment.
The Gift of Clothing
Our families are, more times than not, released with only the clothes on their backs. We provide the basics for their immediate needs.
Each family has different needs depending on their circumstances. When needed we provide:
- underwear and socks
- jeans and shirts
- shoes and boots
- coats, gloves and hats
- pajamas
- sweatshirts
- blankets and bedding
- basic kitchen supplies
- school supplies
With this gift you give the gift of more than just the clothes on their backs.
This donation gift is representative of our programs and needs. Your gift will be used where our most immediate need is at the moment.
The Gift of Medical Care
The care in detention is extremely poor. Often we see recently released detainees who are sick with colds and flu. We provide over the counter medications for these symptoms and cover the cost of medical care when we cannot obtain free services.
Examples of some of your donations cover:
- X-rays
- prescriptions
- back to school appointments for physicals and required vaccinations
- dental and vision care
- Many families require counseling to overcome the tremendous trauma of separation and being held in the hieleras (“icebox”) detention prisons.
With this gift you give the gift of health.
This donation gift is representative of our programs and needs. Your gift will be used where our most immediate need is at the moment.
The Gift of Humanitarian Relief
We partner with and support various social service groups to help meet their urgent needs and we support 5 tent cities and shelters on the border.
- In December 2018 we pledged to cover the cost of 100 hotel rooms at the border. This provided recently released detainees a place to stay while waiting for their cross country bus journey.
- We have provided 3 partners on the border, from California to Texas, with art supplies educational resources for sidewalk pop up classes in 2019.
- Holiday gifts
- Projects of shelter and warmth of tents, sleeping bags, blankets, shoes, base layers, hats, gloves and scarves in December 2019.
- We provided portable kitchens to our partners in El Paso in January 2020 in order to prepare meals for the homeless asylum seekers.
- In January 2020, we sent 404 pairs of shoes for homeless asylum seeking men, women and children. In 2020 we pledged to support asylum seeking migrants who are country less and homeless living in shelters and tent cities on the border with fresh fruit and nutritious food on the El Paso border.
- On January 26, 2020 we pledged to provide 3000 lunches to children attending The Sidewalk School for Asylum Seeking Children over a 3 month period on the Brownsville border.
This donation gift is representative of our programs and needs. Your gift will be used where our most immediate need is at the moment.
Infrastructure Expenses
We have no paid staff. NONE.
We do have normal operating expenses such as:
- travel related reimbursements
- website hosting
- office supplies
- accounting
- postage
This donation gift is representative of our programs and needs. Your gift will be used where our most immediate need is at the moment.
The Gift of Vital Communication
Our families need to stay in touch with:
- us
- our volunteers
- ICE
- their attorneys
- their families
We provide cell phone service to each family. This donation gift is representative of our programs and needs. Your gift will be used where our most immediate need is at the moment.
Make A Difference with In-kind Donations
We recognize some donors have an interest in supporting certain needs of our work.
We've partnered with Give In Kind to facilitate this special giving.
This giving is not tax deductible.