Migrant court accompaniment is an act of love and courage. It means standing beside mothers, fathers, and children as they take every legal step to build safer lives. In DC, Maryland, and Virginia, accompaniment volunteers offer more than transportation and support. They offer peace of mind and a sense of safety in moments filled with fear and uncertainty.
Since January, ICE officers have been appearing at courthouses to seize people who are following the law and attending their hearings as instructed. Some parents are taken away moments after judges affirm their right to stay, leaving children without their mothers or fathers. These acts of cruelty create fear in families who are doing everything right.
Court accompaniment brings light into that darkness. Volunteers attend hearings with migrants, sit beside them, hold their hands, and bear witness to what happens inside and outside the courtroom. They do not intervene or obstruct law enforcement. Their role is to provide safety through presence, to watch, document, and ensure that no one disappears without someone knowing what happened. If someone is detained, accompaniers record the events and contact family members or legal advocates.
How to Host a Court Accompaniment Training in DC or the DC area
If your organization wants to host a court accompaniment training, MELT (Moms for an End to Lawless Tyranny) can help. We connect community groups and faith organizations with expert trainers who teach accompaniment skills, safety practices, and legal awareness. MELT helps coordinate every step of the process, from registration and volunteer vetting to discreet outreach and promotion. We can even help with setup on the day of your event.
Whether you are looking to hold a court accompaniment training for churches, a migrant accompaniment training near Washington, DC, or a migrant accompaniment training in Virginia, MELT will guide you through each stage with care and confidentiality.
To learn how your organization can host an accompaniment training in DC or the surrounding area or get involved in supporting families facing the immigration system, contact MELT. Together, we can make sure that no one faces this system alone.