When ICE detains someone you love, the first thing you need to know is where they are. Often nobody tells the family, the person can't call right away, and every hour feels endless. This guide walks you through how to find someone detained by ICE, step by step, and what to do as soon as you find them.
At American Dream® Law Office we help families across Florida through this. Attorney Ahmad Yakzan came to the United States as an immigrant himself and knows what this moment means for a family.
Is your family member already detained? Call (656) 236-0205 or schedule a consultation. In detention cases, every day counts.
To search for a detained person you need, at a minimum:
The A-Number makes the search much more precise. Without it, you can still search by name.
ICE runs a free online system for finding people in its custody: the Online Detainee Locator System, at locator.ice.gov.
You can search two ways:
If the person is found, the system shows the detention facility they are held in, with its address and phone number.
Tips for searching by name:
Not appearing doesn't always mean they aren't detained. The most common reasons:
In these situations you can also contact the local ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations office that covers the area of the arrest. Every office's phone number is listed on ice.gov.
Many people detained by ICE can be released on an immigration bond. Sometimes ICE sets an initial bond; if it doesn't, or the amount is too high, you can ask an immigration judge for a bond hearing.
The judge looks at, among other things, the person's ties to the community (family, work, years in the U.S.), their record, and whether they're likely to show up to future hearings. The minimum bond by law is $1,500. If bond is granted, it's paid directly to ICE, including online through the CeBONDS system.
Some people aren't eligible for bond because the law places them in mandatory detention, for example because of certain criminal history. When someone has been held a long time without a bond hearing, it is sometimes possible to ask a federal court to order their release through a habeas corpus petition.
More: immigration bonds and mandatory detention.
When a family calls us about a detention, we:
Every case is different and no lawyer can guarantee an outcome, but acting quickly gives your family more options.
It can take anywhere from a few hours to several days after the arrest, especially if the person was held in a county jail first. Keep checking the locator and search the county's inmate lookup in the meantime.
It depends on each detention facility's rules. Call the facility to learn visiting hours and how phone calls work. In many facilities the detained person can call you once money is added to their phone account.
In some cases, yes, for example if the person already had a prior deportation order or is placed in expedited removal. Others go before an immigration judge before any decision is made. That's why it matters to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible.
It isn't required, but detention cases move fast, and early decisions, such as whether to sign a document or request a bond hearing, can change the outcome. An immigration lawyer can request bond, prepare the evidence and defend the case.
If ICE has detained someone you love, you don't have to face this alone. We help families in English, Spanish and Arabic from our office in Temple Terrace and represent clients across Florida. Lea esta guía en español.
Call (656) 236-0205 or schedule a consultation.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different.
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