ICE Online Detainee Locator System

How to find detained family member – step by step

1. Start with the Online Detainee Locator,  or call CBP at (866) 347-2423. 

Ask for their Alien Number (A-Number) to search ICE’s system. You can find it on papers from immigration, like court notices or receipts for applications or on a work permit. You can also search using the person’s name and country of birth.

Warning: The locator only finds people if you put their name in exactly the same way it was entered by the government worker. You might need to try different versions of their name. If a government worker made a mistake when typing the name, or mixed up the first and last names, it can be harder to find the person.

Exceptions:

• Children under 18 who are arrested inside the U.S. do not show up in the online locator system. If a child is arrested with their parent(s) in the U.S., they may be held together family detention center. Adults held in family detention centers should show up in the online locator system, but their children do not. It is not uncommon for ICE to detain a male parent/guardian in a separate facility from their family.

• If an immigrant minor is arrested by the police and then transferred to ICE, they may not appear in the locator. There is at least one juvenile jail where these minors may be sent.

• If the person who was arrested has an immigration case based on being a victim, like a T or U visa, they usually won’t show up in the locator system.

Tip: Take a screenshot or picture of any information you find when you search. This information might be helpful later, especially if the person gets moved to a different place. It’s also a good idea to keep a timeline of what happens after the person is arrested. This can help later in trying to get them released.

2. Next, Try to Contact the ICE Field Office

3. Next, Try Checking the Bureau of Prisons

4. Next, Reach out to the Consulates

Once you have located your loved one, contact the detention facility for visitation rules, phone setup, and how to send funds. 

• Communication/visits

• Gather immigration and criminal documents if any

• Locating immigration court hearing information 

• Will my loved one have a court hearing? 

• Can my loved one be released on bond?