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Immigration Detention Ministry
 Volunteers from World Relief and local ethnic churches visit men and women at the Immigration Detention Center in Tacoma every Sunday, listening, talking and praying with detainees eager for visitors.
St. Luke records a portion of Jesus’ first sermon as
“He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the detainees.”
Foreigners with any kind of immigration irregularity find themselves in this detention center. On a typical Sunday evening over 120 detainees come to times of worship and Bible study with volunteers from Russian, Hispanic, Vietnamese, American and Chinese churches.
To volunteer
Contact Pastor Habtom at World Relief Seattle, (206) 587-0234 x113 or hghebru@wr.org with the following information for your federal clearance:
- name
- date of birth
- Social Security number
- address
- phone
- church name
New volunteers may sign up for an initial visit to observe the worship services with the team. Volunteers must register to enter the facility by the previous Friday.
More information
Volunteers meet other team members at 5:30 pm Sundays at
Northwest Detention Center
1623 East “J” Street
Tacoma, WA 98421
Services begin at 6 pm and end around 9:30 pm Four or five worship services take place as detainees are released in groups of five to 30 detainees. Each service is approximately 45 minutes long and include singing, introductions, Bible study and prayer in small groups. Flexibility is essential. In the middle of a study an officer may inform us that we have two minutes left.
Directions to the Northwest Detention Center
From North
- Head South on I-5. Take exit 135 at Portland Ave.
- Go straight for several blocks, and turn Right at Portland Ave.
- Stay on Portland Ave. for about 1 mile.
- Turn Left at St. Paul Ave. This is more like a Y, rather than a 90 degree turn. You will pass several large factory buildings.
- Turn Left onto E. 15th St. Go one short block.
- Turn Left on “J” street. The Northwest Detention Center is on the left. Show your ID at the guardhouse.
From South
- Head North on I-5. Take exit 135 at Protland Ave. Turn Left at Portland Ave.
- Stay on Portland Ave. for about 1 mile.
- Turn Left at St. Paul Ave. This is more like a Y, rather than a 90 degree turn. You will pass several large factory buildings.
- Turn Left onto E. 15th St. Go one short block.
- Turn Left on “J” street. The Northwest Detention Center is on the left. Show your ID at the guardhouse.
Contact
Cal Uomoto (206) 587-0234 x107, cuomoto@wr.org, cell (206) 313-1607
Pastor Habtom Ghebru (206) 587-0234 x113, hghebru@wr.o
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