Your Family Member Was Detained by ICE

What to Do in the First 24 Hours

Do these in order. You do not need to do them perfectly. You need to do them quickly.

1. Write down what happened. Note the date, the time, and the address where the person was taken. Write down the names or badge numbers of any officers, anything they said, and any paper they left behind.
2. Find out where they are. Use the ICE detainee locator described in the next section. People are often held at a local office for a short time and then moved somewhere else.
3. Do not answer questions about anyone else. If officers call you or come to your home, you do not have to discuss anyone’s immigration status, country of birth, or history. You can say that you want to speak with a lawyer first.
4. Gather the documents listed below. Put everything in one folder. Take a clear photo of each page with your phone so you can send them fast.
5. Do not let anyone sign anything yet. If your family member reaches you, tell them not to sign any form until a lawyer has read it.
6. Set up a way to talk. A detained person usually cannot receive incoming calls. They have to call out. Keep your phone with you and answer numbers you do not recognize.
7. Call a lawyer. Reach our office at (973) 735-2716. Bring your folder to the call, even if it is not complete.

How to Find Someone in ICE Detention

ICE runs a free public search tool called the Online Detainee Locator. Start here: ICE Online Detainee Locator .

There are two ways to search. You need a complete set of information for either one.

• A-number plus country of birth. The A-number is the identification number the government assigns in the immigration system. It starts with the letter A and is followed by seven to nine digits.
• Full legal name plus country of birth plus date of birth. All three are required together. Partial information will not return a result.

Spell the name exactly as it appears on immigration documents. Not a nickname, and not an Americanized spelling. If your family member uses two surnames, try them together and separately, and try switching the order of the first and last name.

If the search returns nothing, that does not always mean the person is not in custody. A new arrest may not show up right away. The person may still be held by local police on an immigration detainer, or may be at a processing office before being assigned to a facility. Check again later in the day, and call us so we can help you look.

What to Gather Right Now

The more of this you have, the faster a lawyer can act. Do not wait until you have all of it before you call.

• A-number, if you can find one. Check work permits, green cards, immigration court notices, USCIS receipt notices, and any letter from ICE.
• Full legal name, spelled exactly as it appears on immigration and government documents.
• Country of birth and date of birth.
• Any pending applications or receipts. Receipt notices, asylum filings, work permit applications, family petitions, and any court notice that shows a hearing date.
• Prior immigration history. Past entries and departures, any earlier removal or deportation order, any past visa, and any earlier time in detention.
• Criminal history, if there is any. The charges, the dates, the county and court, and the outcome of each case. Certified copies of the outcome help a great deal. Do not hide anything from your lawyer.
• Proof of family and community ties. Marriage certificate, birth certificates of children, lease or mortgage, pay records, tax returns, and letters from employers, clergy, teachers, or neighbors.
• Medical needs. Medications and doses, treating doctors, and any serious health condition.

Photograph every page. Keep the originals somewhere safe. Send copies to the lawyer, not originals.

Do Not Sign Anything Without Talking to a Lawyer

This is the part families regret most.

People in custody are often handed forms and asked to sign right away. Sometimes the forms are in English only. Sometimes a person is told that signing will move things along or get them out faster. Signing can do the opposite.

Some forms give up the right to see an immigration judge. Some ask for voluntary departure, which means agreeing to leave the country. Some are agreements to a removal order. Once signed, these can be very hard to undo.

Your family member can say this out loud, in these words: “I do not want to sign anything. I want to speak with my lawyer.” They can also ask for an interpreter in their own language. They do not have to explain why, and they do not have to answer questions.

Say this in the first phone call you get from them. The call may be short, so say it first.

When to Call a Lawyer, and What a Habeas Petition Can Do

Call as soon as you can. Some situations are especially urgent:

• Weeks have passed and there has been no bond hearing.
• Your family member was moved to a facility in another state.
• ICE says an old removal order is being reinstated.
• There is any criminal history, even old or minor.
• There is a serious medical condition or a language barrier.
• Anyone has mentioned travel documents, a flight, or a removal date.

Most detention questions start in immigration court, where a judge may be able to set bond. When that process is not available or has not produced a hearing, federal court may be the next step. A habeas corpus petition is filed in federal district court under 28 U.S.C. § 2241. It asks a federal judge to look at whether the detention itself is lawful. Depending on the facts, it can ask the court to order a bond hearing or to order release.

A habeas petition does not decide whether your family member wins the immigration case. It addresses custody: whether the government may keep holding this person, and for how long.

If you want to understand how this works, you can read habeas corpus and ICE detention, detained without a bond hearing, and the circuit split on mandatory detention. You do not need to read anything first. Calling is faster.

How to Reach Us

Call (973) 735-2716 or use our contact form. Our office is at 72 South Maple Avenue, 1st Floor, Ridgewood, NJ 07450. Consultations are confidential.

Harry Asatrian reviews detention matters personally. Tell us the A-number, the facility, and the date of the arrest, and we will explain the options and the next step.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find out where ICE is holding my family member?

Start with the ICE Online Detainee Locator at locator.ice.gov. You can search with the A-number and country of birth, or with the full legal name, country of birth, and date of birth. Spell the name exactly as it appears on immigration documents. If nothing comes up, try other spellings and check again later, because a new arrest does not always appear right away.

Can I visit my family member in ICE detention?

Most detention facilities allow visits, but every facility sets its own rules for scheduling, identification, and hours. Confirm the rules for that specific facility before you travel. Attorneys have access to legal visits and legal calls that are separate from family visitation.

Should my family member sign anything ICE gives them?

Not before speaking with a lawyer. Some forms give up the right to a hearing before an immigration judge, and some ask for voluntary departure, which means agreeing to leave the country. Your family member can say that they want to speak with a lawyer first, and can ask for an interpreter.

What is an A-number and where do I find it?

An A-number is the identification number the government assigns to a person in the immigration system. It starts with the letter A and is followed by seven to nine digits. Look for it on a work permit, a green card, an immigration court notice, a receipt notice from USCIS, or any letter from ICE.

What can a habeas corpus petition do?

A habeas corpus petition is filed in federal district court and asks a federal judge to review whether the detention is lawful. Depending on the facts, it can ask the court to order a bond hearing or to order release. It does not decide the underlying immigration case. It addresses custody.

How fast do I need to act?

Quickly. People in ICE custody can be moved to a facility in another state with little notice, and some deadlines run in days rather than weeks. Call our office at (973) 735-2716 as soon as you know someone has been detained.