We have been a force for change in the Americas, influencing laws and policy, and driving public action.

Since 2011, IDC has worked to reduce and ultimately end immigration detention in the Americas – a region that includes two of the world’s biggest detainers of immigrants, the United States and Mexico. The United States now detains more immigrants than any other country worldwide, turning what should be a human rights matter into a political flashpoint.

Many countries in South America do not generally use immigration detention, as such, our work focuses on the Central America, Mexico and the US corridor. We hold a spotlight on harmful immigration detention practices and advocate for the most vulnerable people on the move in the region, amplifying the voices of those affected.

IDC has been a powerful force, influencing laws and policy, and driving public action. We are working to build sustainable institutional and community structures to receive migrant children and their families so as to ensure no child is detained and to end the detention of people seeking asylum in Mexico.

We are committed to advocating for migrant and refugee communities and convincing governments that immigration detention is not a solution. Join us, and help champion humane alternatives.

Milestones

2024

IDC takes on a key leadership position, as Technical Secretariat of the Civil Society Regional Migration Network (Red Regional de Organizaciones Civiles para las Migraciones, RRCOM)

2023

State and local authorities develop and adopt plans to implement Mexico´s protocol, with IDC's support, advice and expertise

2022

IDC-led peer learning training supports and strengthens the role of alternative care programs in Mexico´s protection protocol


Learn more about our work in different regions