United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The primary tool for locating someone in ICE custody is the ICE Online Detainee Locator. You will need one of the following:

• The detainee's A-Number (Alien Registration Number) - a nine-digit number that begins with A or #. If shorter than nine digits, add leading zeros to reach nine total. This is the most reliable search method.
• The detainee's full legal name, country of birth, and date of birth - exact matches only.

The ICE locator has limitations. ICE is currently detaining people in more facilities than the system consistently reflects, and recent transfers may take 24 to 48 hours or longer to update. If the locator shows no result:

1. Call the ICE ERO (Enforcement and Removal Operations) tip line at 888-351-4024

2. Call ICE directly at 202-732-4242

3. Search InmateAid's detainee locator which draws from multiple data sources

4. Contact an immigration attorney or legal aid organization - attorneys sometimes have faster access to ICE custody records

If you believe someone was recently detained but cannot confirm where, call the ICE detainee locator line at 888-351-4024 with as much identifying information as possible.

ICE detention is civil administrative detention, not criminal incarceration. People held at ICE have not been convicted of a crime simply by being in detention. They are being held while U.S. immigration authorities process their cases - which may include removal (deportation) proceedings, bond hearings, asylum claims, or appeals.

Civil immigration detention is governed by ICE detention standards, not by state or local criminal justice rules. This distinction affects detainee rights, access to legal counsel, and the processes available to challenge detention.

Key differences from criminal jail:

• No right to a government-appointed attorney. Detainees have the right to legal representation but must secure it themselves or through nonprofit legal aid.
• Detention is not a sentence. There is no fixed end date - detention continues while the immigration case proceeds.
• The case proceeds through immigration court (EOIR), not a criminal court.
• Bond may be available for some detainees - an immigration judge or ICE officer may set bond, which the family can pay to secure release while the case continues.

Understanding these differences is important for knowing what steps to take and which resources apply.

Phone calls from ICE are outbound - your family member calls you. Calls are generally recorded and monitored. Calls to attorneys are handled separately under legal privilege procedures and should not be recorded.

Contact ICE at 202-732-4242 to confirm the current phone provider and how to set up an account to receive calls.

Note: immigration detainees sometimes have access to free or low-cost legal calls through facility legal services or nonprofit programs. An immigration attorney can advise on what communication options are available for legal representation purposes.

Visitation rules at ICE detention facilities vary significantly by facility, contract type, and current operational status. Some facilities permit in-person visits; others have suspended visitation or permit only legal visits. Video visitation may be available at some facilities.

Before making the trip, call ICE at 202-732-4242 to confirm:

• Whether in-person visitation is currently available
• Current visiting hours and days
• Whether advance registration is required
• What identification visitors must present
• Whether children are permitted

Do not travel to the facility without confirming visitation is available. Rules can change without public notice. Read InmateAid's visitation guide for a general checklist of what to bring and what to expect.

Money sent to a detainee's account at ICE can be used for commissary purchases, phone calls, and postage. ICE detention facilities use various deposit systems depending on the facility operator and contract.

Contact ICE at 202-732-4242 to confirm the accepted deposit method for this facility. Visit InmateAid's send money page for deposit instructions specific to ICE. Use your family member's full legal name and their A-Number or facility ID number exactly as they appear in the facility's records.

Note: commissary availability and what detainees are permitted to purchase varies by facility and current operational policy. Confirm with the facility what funds can be used for.

ICE accepts incoming mail addressed to your family member at 500 12th St SW. Include their full legal name and A-Number or facility-assigned ID on every piece. Standard rules apply: plain white paper, no staples, no glitter, no stickers, no colored ink. Photos in standard print size with nothing written on the back.

Mail at ICE detention facilities is subject to inspection. Do not include documents that could affect the immigration case in personal mail - legal documents should be sent directly from an attorney.

InmateAid's send mail service prints and mails on approved stock from your phone or computer.

This is the most important section on this page.

Immigration detention is a legal process. A licensed immigration attorney or accredited representative can make a significant difference in the outcome of a case - from filing for bond to preparing a defense to deportation. The sooner legal representation is secured, the better.

Free and low-cost legal help is available:

National Immigrant Justice Center - provides free legal services to immigrants, including those in detention. Operates remotely in many states.

RAICES - provides free and low-cost immigration legal services. Strong presence in Texas and Southeast detention facilities.

ACLU Immigrants Rights Project - litigates on behalf of immigrants and provides know-your-rights resources.

CLINIC (Catholic Legal Immigration Network) - accredited immigration legal services through a national network of affiliates.

If you are searching for legal aid in District of Columbia specifically, the immigration court for ICE's jurisdiction maintains a list of legal service providers. Call the EOIR Automated Case Information System at 800-898-7180 for court information and legal services referrals.

Warning about notarios: In some communities, non-lawyers called notarios or immigration consultants offer immigration help. They are not licensed to give legal advice or represent anyone in immigration court. Using an unauthorized representative can harm a case. Verify that any representative is a licensed attorney or accredited through the Board of Immigration Appeals before engaging them.

The legal aid organizations listed above are provided as a public service.

Immigration cases at ICE are processed through the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), the immigration court system operated by the U.S. Department of Justice. Immigration court is a civil court - it is separate from criminal courts.

The general process:

Notice to Appear (NTA): The document that initiates removal proceedings. It lists the grounds for removal and a court date. If a court date has not yet been set, the NTA will note "to be determined."

Master Calendar Hearing: An initial short hearing where the detainee or their attorney states whether they are contesting removal. This is not the merits hearing - it is a scheduling and procedural hearing.

Individual (Merits) Hearing: The substantive hearing where the case is argued. The detainee or their attorney presents their case. The DHS trial attorney presents the government's case.

Decision and Appeals: The immigration judge issues a decision. Either party may appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). Further appeals may go to the federal circuit courts.

To find out the specific hearing date and court for your family member's case, call the EOIR Automated Case Information System at 800-898-7180. You will need the A-Number. The system is available 24 hours.

Bond: For some detainees, an immigration judge may set bond allowing release from detention while the case continues. Bond amounts vary significantly. An attorney can advise on bond eligibility and petition for a bond hearing if one has not occurred.

ICE detention conditions, facility locations, visitation rules, and legal resources in District of Columbia are documented in InmateAid's District of Columbia immigration resources hub. That page covers District of Columbia-specific legal aid organizations, current facility information, and immigration court locations.