Join Us

DWN membership is a unique opportunity to learn from and collaborate with others around the country who also care about the plight of immigrants in the U.S. detention and deportation system.

If you are already a DWN member, you can register to log on to the website as a member.

See the list of current DWN members.
If you are interested in joining DWN, you can download the membership application.

Criteria for Membership

Membership in DWN is open to organizations and individuals with an interest in immigration detention that meet the following membership criteria:

    1. Agree with the mission, principles, and values of the network as defined on the "Who We Are" page;

    2. Agree to publicly identify your membership in DWN, when appropriate;

    3. Agree to respect the diverse views and opinions within the membership and to seek respectful means for communicating concerns and resolving conflict;

    4. Pay dues as established by the Steering Committee;

    5. Are willing to be active on at least one committee of the network or otherwise actively support the work of the network; and

    6. Organizations or individuals who are involved in the following:

      a. providing services (defined broadly) to immigrants in detention, their families or former detainees; or

      b. advocating, providing public education or providing other information on immigration detention issues; or

      c. are concerned about immigration detention/deportation issues and supportive of systemic change.

    7. Membership is not open to government employees or media representatives.

(Additional information about membership is detailed in DWN's Articles of Governance.)


Member Benefits

    Networking: Through our annual conference, regional gatherings, network strategy calls, and network committees, members are able to share strategies and best practices with other organizations and individuals working on detention and deportation issues around the country.

    Media and Public Exposure: The Network regularly refers media requests on detention and deportation issues to its members. Members collaborate on press events and develop shared resources including talking points and sample materials. DWN members are also invited to participate in panels and workshops with other organizations around the country.

    Information-Sharing: The DWN website and listserv enable members to share resources and promote activities. DWN also regularly informs members about advocacy, public education, and coalition building activities.

    Coordination: DWN offers support and coordination for members' collective public awareness, media and advocacy campaigns including connecting members doing similar work in various regions, sharing media opportunities, managing logistics in DC, and providing materials.

    Voice on Detention: It is crucial that detention and deportation issues are highlighted within the larger immigration debate. As the only national coalition with a primary focus on detention, DWN helps amplify members' voices in the national dialogue on detention and deportation.

Individual dues are $75 a year ($20 for students, $5 for individuals in detention or recently released and family members of the detained or deported); Organizational dues are on a sliding scale according to an organization’s budget (see application for details).


We hope that you will become a member of DWN and work with us to change the U.S. immigration detention and deportation system so that all who come to our shores receive fair and humane treatment. Thank you for your support.

PLEASE NOTE: You may email the application form to DWN at asmith-dieng@detentionwatchnetwork.org for faster processing.