What Families Should Do When a Loved One Is Detained by ICE

When ICE arrests someone, their family is often left scrambling — scared, confused, and unsure where to start. The first hours matter. This guide walks through what to do, step by step, when a loved one has been detained by immigration authorities.

Step 1: Find Out Where They Are

ICE does not always notify families when someone is detained. Your first task is to locate the detained person. ICE maintains an online detainee locator at locator.ice.gov — you need the person's full legal name, country of birth, and ideally an A-number (Alien Registration Number). The locator updates periodically and may show results within 24–48 hours of arrest.

If the online locator does not return results, try:

• Calling local ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) offices
• Calling the detention facility directly if you have a guess about which one
• Contacting an immigration attorney — attorneys often have faster ways to locate detainees
• Calling ICE's main detention line: 1-888-351-4024

ICE transfers detainees frequently — sometimes to facilities hours away from where the arrest happened. Location can change. Check the locator regularly.

Step 2: Get the A-Number

The Alien Registration Number (A-number, also written as "A#") is the unique identifier for the detained person's immigration file. You will need it for almost everything — locating them, communicating with ICE, and hiring an attorney.

The A-number can be found on:

• Prior immigration documents (visa, green card, EAD, prior court notices)
• ICE arrest paperwork if the family received any
• The detained person themselves — they should memorize or write down their A-number as soon as they are processed

Step 3: Hire an Immigration Attorney

This cannot be overstated. Immigration detention cases move on court schedules that do not wait for families to get organized. An attorney can:

• Locate the detained person and determine why they were arrested
• Review the basis for detention and assess whether mandatory detention applies
• Request a bond hearing and prepare the case for it
• Communicate with ICE on behalf of the family
• Identify any immigration relief options in the underlying case

Do not rely on the public defenders available at immigration court — immigration courts do not have appointed counsel for adults. The detained person has the right to an attorney at their own expense, but no right to a free lawyer. Nonprofit legal organizations in some cities provide free or low-cost representation, but availability is limited.

See our guide on who qualifies for immigration bond to understand what the attorney will be evaluating.

Step 4: Understand Visitation and Communication

Rules vary by detention facility. Most ICE detention centers allow visitation and phone calls, but the schedules, procedures, and costs differ significantly.

What to expect:

• Phone calls: Detainees can usually make collect calls or use a prepaid phone account system. Calls are expensive — families often need to deposit money into the detainee's phone account through the facility's vendor (often GTL or Securus).
• Visitation: Most facilities allow visitation on scheduled days and times. Visitors typically need government-issued ID and must follow facility dress codes. Some facilities require advance registration.
• Mail: Letters and cards can be sent, but mail is screened. Facilities have specific mailing addresses for detainees that include the A-number.
• Video visits: Many facilities now offer video visitation either on-site or remotely. This can be easier for families who live far from the facility.

If the person has been transferred, the new facility's rules apply. Contact the facility directly to get current visitation procedures.

Step 5: Gather Documents for the Bond Hearing

While the attorney works on the legal side, families can help enormously by gathering documents. The faster this happens, the better prepared the bond case will be.

Priority documents to gather immediately:

• Birth certificates of U.S. citizen children (certified copies)
• Marriage certificate if married to a U.S. citizen or LPR
• Passports or ID for U.S. citizen or LPR family members
• Proof of the detained person's U.S. address — lease, utility bills, bank statements
• Employment records — pay stubs, employer letter, tax returns
• Any prior immigration documents (old visa, EAD, green card if applicable)
• Criminal record information — certified dispositions for any prior arrests

For a complete list and explanation, see our guide on how to prepare for an immigration bond hearing.

Step 6: Prepare the Bond Money

If bond is granted, it must be paid in full before release — no installments. ICE accepts cashier's checks, money orders, or cash at the ICE field office handling the case. They do not accept personal checks or credit cards.

Start arranging the funds before the bond hearing. Common amounts range from $1,500 to $25,000 or more depending on the judge's assessment. Having the money ready means your loved one gets out the same day or the next day after the hearing — not a week later while the family scrambles for funds.

Options if you cannot afford the full bond amount:

• Ask the attorney to file a motion to reduce the bond amount with additional evidence
• Look into immigration bond companies (similar to bail bondsmen — they charge a non-refundable fee of 15–20%)
• Contact local immigrant advocacy organizations about bond funds

For more on the timeline between bond payment and release, see our guide on how long immigration bond release takes.

Step 7: Support Through the Hearings

Detention does not end the immigration case — it just means the case proceeds while the person is locked up (unless bond is granted). After release, the case continues with regular court hearings. Families play a crucial ongoing role:

• Make sure every hearing is attended. Missing a hearing results in an automatic removal order and forfeiture of the bond money. Put every hearing date in every family member's calendar.
• Keep the address updated with the court. If the family moves, the immigration court must be notified immediately using Form EOIR-33. Missed notices due to wrong address do not excuse missed hearings.
• Stay in contact with the attorney. Immigration cases can take years. Families need to maintain the attorney relationship and stay current on what documents are needed and when.
• Document ongoing community ties. As the case proceeds, continuing to build the record — stable employment, community involvement, family ties — strengthens any future applications for relief.

What Not to Do

• Do not pay a notario or unauthorized person to help with immigration. Only licensed attorneys or accredited representatives can provide legal advice. Notario fraud is rampant and can destroy immigration cases.
• Do not have the detained person sign any documents without an attorney reviewing them first. ICE sometimes presents waivers of rights or voluntary departure paperwork at arrest or during detention. Signing without understanding the consequences can permanently harm the case.
• Do not assume that U.S. citizen children automatically protect a parent from deportation. Having U.S. citizen children is a factor, but it does not prevent removal by itself.
• Do not pay bond to anyone other than ICE directly. Bond is paid at the ICE field office. Anyone asking you to pay bond to them personally is committing fraud.
• Do not stop attending hearings after release on bond. Release is conditional. Failure to appear ends the case badly and forfeits the bond.

Emotional Support Matters Too

Immigration detention is psychologically brutal. Detained people describe it as isolating, unpredictable, and frightening — often worse than criminal incarceration because of the uncertainty about the outcome. Families who maintain consistent contact — calls, visits, letters, money for commissary — make a real difference in a detained person's ability to cope and cooperate effectively with their attorney.

Children whose parents are detained face serious disruption. Schools, pediatricians, and social workers may need to be informed. If the detained parent is the primary caregiver, childcare and financial support arrangements need to be made quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hire an attorney for someone in ICE detention even if I'm not related?

Yes. Anyone can retain an attorney on behalf of a detained person. The detained person will need to sign a G-28 form authorizing the attorney to represent them, but a family member or friend can initiate the hiring process and pay the fees. The attorney can then contact the detained person directly to get the authorization signed.

What if the detained person is transferred to a different state?

ICE transfers happen. When they do, the case transfers with the person to the new immigration court. An attorney who filed a notice of appearance can typically continue representing the person even if the facility changes — though logistics become more complicated. If an attorney has not yet been hired, start the process immediately regardless of where the person is currently held.

Does having U.S. citizen children automatically prevent deportation?

No. Having U.S. citizen children is a factor that weighs in favor of bond and against deportation, but it does not automatically prevent either. The immigration case must be fought on its merits. U.S. citizen children can be a qualifying relative for certain forms of relief like cancellation of removal, but eligibility depends on meeting additional requirements.

Can the detained person vote or maintain their U.S. bank accounts while detained?

Financial accounts remain active — families should make sure bills are being paid to prevent unnecessary disruptions. Voting eligibility depends on citizenship status, not detention. An immigration attorney can advise on any specific concerns about civil rights or financial matters during the detention period.

The Bottom Line

The first 48 hours after an ICE arrest set the course for everything that follows. Families who act fast — locate the person, hire an attorney, start gathering documents — give their loved one the best possible outcome. Families who wait lose time that cannot be recovered.

If your family member has been detained by ICE, call Modern Law Group today. We act fast, we know detention facilities nationwide, and we fight hard to get people home.

Related Resources

• What Happens at an Immigration Bond Hearing
• Who Qualifies for Immigration Bond?
• How to Prepare for a Bond Hearing
• How Long Does Immigration Bond Release Take?
• What to Do When ICE Says No Bond
• Modern Law Group Immigration Bond Services