Immigration detention is a hot contemporary issue in the United States, with over 33,000 individuals held in detention facilities daily and reports of poor conditions and human rights abuses. Building on a growing body of theory exploring the role of faith-based organizations (FBOs) in social services provision, and seeking to address a gap in the literature concerning services provided to immigrants in detention, this qualitative study explored the responses of FBOs to immigration detainees. Twenty in-depth interviews with volunteers and staff members of FBOs as well as field notes from participant observation were analyzed using thematic coding techniques. Findings suggest that FBOs are active leaders in this area of social work practice and provide significant resources to isolated and vulnerable detained immigrants in a variety of ways. Simultaneously, they face challenges surrounding access and constricted activity. The study indicates that considerable scope exists for expanding and enhancing faith-based and other social work engagement in this crucial field. © 2015 National Association of Social Workers.

Immigration detention Advocacy Challenges visitation Faith-based organizations

community care human prisoner Prisoners health service Social Work religion Health Services Needs and Demand human rights United States Humans psychology male female Religion and Psychology Religious Missions organization and management legislation and jurisprudence adult migration Transients and Migrants Health Services Accessibility health care delivery