Learn about immigration detention and visit immigrants being held in detention.

Mesa Verde (Bakersfield), and Golden State Annex (McFarland) are private-for-profit detention facilities in Kern County where asylum seekers and people contesting their deportation orders are detained. A volunteer group, called Kern Welcoming and Extending Solidarity to Immigrants (KWESI), runs a volunteer-based visitation program offering people friendship and a connection to the outside world.

On this trip, you will learn about the immigration detention system, and what advocates are doing to close down these detention centers. Someone from KWESI will meet with the group and share about the work they do. Jan Meslin will drive. If visitation is possible the day you make the trip, you will have the opportunity to visit someone who is in detention.

If you are interested, you can email Jan. You do not need to be able to speak Spanish in order to visit.