2601 Potter St

Philadelphia, PA 19125

(215) 279-7060

Twitter: @NSMPhilly
Facebook: New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia

New Sanctuary Movement Accompaniment Program

Accompaniment Description

New Sanctuary Movement’s Accompaniment Program is a primary method through which allied congregations provide solidarity to our immigrant members facing deportation. Through a process supported by NSM staff, the congregation and family build mutual, long-term relationships to stop the deportation, serve as a faithful witness in spaces of injustice, and collectively grow as community leaders in the fight for immigrant rights.

NSM staff match families facing deportation with NSM allied congregations through a carefully guided process of mutually agreeing to enter into the Accompaniment and adhere to the goals, agreements, and expectations of the program. NSM staff works to build the relationship between the congregational team and family in order to beat the case and keep families together. Through this process, the congregation and family develop critical leadership skills to engage in NSM’s campaign work.

Accompaniment Goals:

  • Congregational support for families facing deportation
  • Build long-term relationships rooted in solidarity and mutuality between NSM members facing deportation and ally congregations
  • Build awareness of unjust immigration policies in congregation
  • Develop leadership skills of congregation and family to organize with NSM’s campaigns
  • Serve as faithful witness in immigration court, criminal court, and detention centers

Accompaniment Agreements

  1. NSM and NSM member congregations do not provide any financial support to families. This can enable dependency, makes mutuality difficult, and can create challenging dynamics between NSM immigrant members. If the person is unemployed, we can use NSM congregations to find jobs.
  2. Families are never obligated to share their stories of migration, detention, deportation, etc. Instead, Accompaniment events seek to create safe spaces with personal sharing opportunities for all to share and learn about each more deeply. We welcome the opportunity for the family to share their migration story if they so choose.
  3. The congregation and family keeps NSM staff informed about Accompaniment activities, court dates, media opportunities, and issues that arise. The family and congregation works with staff to strategically design programming and activities.

Expectations of Congregation:

  • Build an Accompaniment team within the congregation to walk with the family through the course of their immigration case
  • Build a relationship with the family through shared worship services, reflection/sharing, social outings, and inviting the family to participate in congregational events when appropriate
  • Provide emotional and spiritual support of the family through maintained contact between formal programming
  • Attend criminal court, immigration hearings, and detention visits as needed
  • Work with NSM staff to develop strategy to stop the deportation and keep staff informed about Accompaniment activities
  • Use insight and commitment to immigrant justice gained throughout Accompaniment to springboard to NSM campaign organizing
  • Adhere to the rules and expectations set out by NSM

Expectations of Family

  • Build a relationship with the allied congregation through shared worship, social outings, and fighting the deportation
  • Participate in NSM’s broader campaign organizing
  • Opportunity to participate in NSM events, actions, and leadership development
  • Work with NSM staff to develop strategy to stop the deportation and keep staff informed about Accompaniment activities and legal updates
  • Adhere to the rules and expectations set out by NSM

Expectations of NSM Staff

  • Help the family navigate the immigration system, ensure honest lawyer, and maintain contact with lawyer as needed
  • Provide guidance and support for planning Accompaniment events and public campaigning to stop the deportation when needed
  • Support communication between the family and congregation if there are language barriers
  • Provide training and education to congregation on immigration rights and solidarity work
  • Provide referrals to family on other needed services, such as therapy, school enrollment, education opportunities, etc.
  • Engage the congregation and family in NSM’s broader organizing work