On August 28th and 29th members of the Third Act Michigan Coordinating Committee had the pleasure of meeting a dynamic, grass-roots organization that advocates for the detainees in the GEO (Baldwin) North Lake Immigrant Detention Center. GEO is a privately owned facility that currently houses roughly 1,500 detainees, with a total capacity of 1,800. GEO North Lake Center has more detainees than reside in the entire community of Baldwin, MI. Detainees are from all over the world. Many have lived in the U.S. for years and have tried to pursue legal permanent status, as well as those whose temporary protected status (TPS) has been revoked by the U.S. government (i.e., Haitians on 7/27/26, and soon Salvadorans, on 9/9/26). The vast majority of those inside the Center have been employed, law-abiding, taxpaying, productive members of society with families who desperately miss them and are struggling to keep going emotionally and financially in their absence.
The local Baldwin area Immigrant Action Coalition (IAC) truly is a Light in the Darkness for these detainees and their families. Bonnie, Cliff, Maria, and Virginia have developed relationships with the incarcerated and become a bridge to their families and to a larger community of organizations and activists. They facilitate visitations, communication between detainees and family members, solicit donations, and secure legal representation, but most importantly, they show up! The guards and detainees know that they can be trusted and phone calls come in to the IAC around the clock from detainees and family members alike.
The IAC encourages concerned citizens to make a real difference in the lives of detainees in the following ways.
- Visitation: Many detainees have not had a visitor for months. They are scared, lonely, and anxious to know that they aren’t forgotten. Spanish speaking visitors are especially needed, though anyone willing to sit and lend a compassionate listening ear is welcome.
- Donations: Detainees at GEO pay for everything! Donations to individual commissary accounts allow them to make phone calls, send messages, purchase personal care items and supplemental food.
- Immigration Lawyers: The IAC has secured legal assistance for some detainees but more is urgently needed. If you or someone you know has this professional skill set, please contact them right away.
- Communication: Cards and letters can really brighten a detainee’s day. If you or a group with which you are affiliated would like to communicate with a detainee, please contact the Coalition at the number below. They will provide you with a name and contact information.
- Transportation: The Coalition is in need of people around the state who are able and willing to transport family members to the Center. The ability to see a beloved spouse, child, sibling, or friend after many months of separation is the connection that so many desperately need.
- Education: The IAC is available to attend organizations and events in an effort to educate the public about what detainees are experiencing at the hands of ICE and the GEO system. They endeavor to raise awareness and rally support for those who are unable to do so themselves.
Please consider taking action in one of the ways above, and attending the weekly Saturday rallies outside of Baldwin, MI. Rallies are held every Saturday from 12:00 – 3:00 at the intersection of M37 and 32nd Street. Come meet Immigrant Action Coalition members and members of other state-wide advocacy groups. Bring your own signs and rally in solidarity for our brothers and sisters held at the GEO North Lake Center.
For more information about how you can positively contribute to the lives of detainees, contact the Immigrant Action Coalition at:
(231) -233-7923 / immigrantactioncoalition@gmail.com / Follow them on Facebook
To donate to this organization, scan this QR code:
