Team Libertad

History

Team Libertad is a project of Christian philanthropy organization Inspiritus that originated as a project of Paz Amigos, which worked with Indivisible Columbus, a progressive nonprofit organization that provided food and housing for family members visiting immigrants detained at Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia. ² In February 2019, Paz Amigos began organizing volunteers to help arrange transportation for immigrants released at Stewart Detention Center, helping them find their correct bus or airport shuttle. ³

In March 2020, Stewart Detention Center was required to release detained asylum seekers per court order in response to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time Paz Amigos joined with Casa Alterna and El Refugio to assist migrants who had been released by the Stewart Detention Center and dropped off at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, forming what became to be known as Team Libertad. ^{2 4 5}

Team Libertad volunteers assist migrants by helping them obtain boarding passes and contact family members, as well as giving them necessities such as food and water. In its first year, The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that they assisted over 2,000 migrants at the airport and provided short term housing for 300 migrants at Casa Alterna’s local nonprofit housing. ⁴

In April 2023, Team Libertad would become an official project of Inspiritus under its refugee and immigrant services program. At the time it joined Inspiritus, it was reported Team Libertad consisted of 100 volunteers and provided support for 50 to 100 released migrants on a weekly basis. ⁶

Activities

Team Libertad organizes a group of volunteers who greet migrants that are awaiting trial in asylum court at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport after they are released from nearby Stewart Detention Center. The volunteers help migrants navigate the airport, find their flight information, and coordinate their future travel and accommodations. Team Libertad also provides food for the migrants, has cell phones for them to borrow, and offers additional services for immigrants through its parent organization, Inspiritus. ^{1 7}

Leadership

Alix Janke is the director of Team Libertad. ⁸ Janke also works as assistant director of youth and immigrant services for Inspiritus and previously was youth program manager. Starting in 2017 she also worked for Inspiritus’ predecessor, Lutheran Services of Georgia, as a client manager and grant manager, until it changed its name to Inspiritus in 2019. ⁹