He’s Sharing His Commissary with Others: How the OIA Commissary Fund Can Help

That's just how it works. Immigration jail is a cold, terrible place. Jailers want immigrants to think they have no power and no one cares. But your commissary donations and letters let them know that is not the case. And immigrants take care of each other in immigration jail.

We've been putting money on commissary and phone accounts for detained immigrants since the first Trump administration, and there are a couple things we hear over and over again: "I wouldn't have survived without this. Thank you for helping me feel human again."

This week, a Haitian man detained in one of Ohio's immigration jails shared his commissary funds — that you donated — with other people who didn't have anything. This afternoon, commissary volunteers are putting hundreds of dollars on other people's books so they can get snacks, clothing, and hygiene supplies before the weekend. 

This is what YOU are making possible. Help keep it going by donating here.

Use this toolkit to tell your friends how they can also get involved, and let your community know their loved ones in immigration jail can request help from the Detained Immigrants Commissary Fund by contacting the Ohio Immigrant Hotline. 

If you want to get more involved, contact the Hotline to join the volunteer team that funds immigrants' accounts and get reimbursed by OIA. We organized a group to do this because of payment limits within the systems, and it's working out really well because we keep us safe. And if you want to donate to the fund, click on the link here.

Thank you for being part of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance family!