CASA DE PAZ

In Search of Home

When Alondra Flores spots someone standing alone in the parking lot of the ICE immigrant detention center in Aurora, Colo. clutching a folder she knows to hold immigration papers, she races over and flashes her purple and green volunteer badge that reads, “Casa de Paz (House of Peace).” 

Every day across the country, thousands of people who’ve fled violence in their home countries are released from U.S. immigrant detention into unfamiliar cities with often only their clothes on their backs. They’ve won their asylum or immigration case, meaning they are legally permitted to reside in the U.S., but many don’t have a way to contact their loved ones or transportation to reunite with them. 

“We always welcome them to the U.S., because nobody's ever done that,” said Flores, executive assistant for Casa de Paz, who was born in Mexico and came to the U.S. as a child. “Since they've arrived in our country, they've always been treated like criminals.”

Since 2012, Casa de Paz, an immigrant-led nonprofit, has helped 7,000 guests from 80 countries find their footing and reunite with their families. Volunteers park outside the facility, located in an industrial part of the city, and drive them to a small home tucked away in a nearby cul-de-sac. Here, they provide phones to call their families, hot meals, clothes, backpacks, hygiene products, and a safe place to sleep. Once the person is able to catch their breath, the team helps them find transportation to get to their families or immigration sponsors who are often thousands of miles away.

Throughout 2022 and 2023, Ross Taylor has documented Casa de Paz's critical work and built trust with those passing through.

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Additionally, the full front of the house is not shown to protect the individuals at the house due to concerns of threats and violence. Captions, as well as more information, are available as needed.