Your Loved One Is in an Immigration Detention Center, Now What?

The overcrowded conditions at migrant detention centers run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has sparked outrage and protests.

At least seven children have died in U.S. custody since 2017. Yet, for the previous decade, the death toll was zero.

Crammed into fetid detention centers with little to no access to food, water, and shelter, the reports of detainees sound more like prison camps of WWII. 

If your loved one has been detained at an immigration detention center, what can you do? Read on to learn the immediate next steps to take. 

Locating a Detained Family Member

The first thing to do if someone you care about has been detained in an immigration detention center is to locate them.

Even if you can't reach the person by phone, there are ways that you can locate them.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will first process the individuals. This can take place in an ICE detention and Removal Office or a short-term location including jail. 

The individual detained might remain there for up to 72 hours. Some people are then transferred to another location for a longer stay. This is often out-of-state.

People are often transferred several times during detainment. Unfortunately, these transfers take place without informing the family.

You can use the online detainee locator system to search for people over age 18. For minors under the age of 18, you can contact the Enforcement and Removal Operations Field Offices.

Gather Letters of Support

Your next step is to collect as many letters of support that you can. These letters should come from the detainee's family living in the United States, their friends, employers, co-workers, faith-leaders, and friends.

The point of the letters is to show the detainee's good moral character. These can also explain the length of time the person has been residing in the US.

Whenever possible, the letters should express the hardships that this person's deportation would cause on their family and friends. These letters help make your loved one stand out from the hundreds of other detainee's that the ICE deals with. 

Find a Trusted Lawyer

Hiring an experienced immigration lawyer gives you your best chance of getting someone released from an immigration detention center.

Also, lawyers are able to get detainee's medical attention they need. If you aren't able to get information from your loved one's deportation officer, your lawyer often can.

An attorney can help get your loved one a bond hearing. This is where a judge decides if a detainee can be released or not.

Then, your loved one will be added to a calendar for a hearing. You will want a skilled lawyer to help you through each of these steps.

Get Your Loved One Out of an Immigration Detention Center

Having a friend or family member in an immigration detention center is scary and stressful. By following these tips we hope that you are able to be proactive and get the best outcome possible.

At Action Immigration Bonds & Insurance, we pride ourselves on getting your loved one out of jail, often the same day you call, and for the least amount of money.

Check out our testimonials to learn about how we've helped thousands of people in your situation. Then, book a free consultation with a member of our team.