top of page

Resources for Detainees

There are many organizations helping detained immigrants and their families navigate an unjust system. These resources assist finding detained individuals and what steps to take once a family member is detained. 

​

​​​​​​​​​

  • ​Human Rights Watch | Immigration Client Locator → 

    • A free, Google Chrome extension created to assist family members, friends, attorneys, and advocates find and track clients and loved ones in immigration detention through the US Online Detainee Locator System. 

  • ​​ICE Detainee Locator →  

    • Need Individual's Alien Registration Number (A+8-9 digits)

    • Need Individual's Country of Origin

  • National Immigration Detention Hotline: 

    • ​If someone is detained inside ICE, try to dial 9233#. The line is free and unmonitored, hotline is available M-F from 8 am - 8pm PT/11am -11pm EST. Hotline provided by funds from Freedom for Immigrants.

    • To find loved one’s US Immigration Court date dial: 1-800-898-7180  â€‹

How Do I Find a Detained Individual?

Resources & Support For Detainees & Deportees

American Immigration Council → 
Guide to Obtaining Detention Records → 
The AIC also has a guide to obtaining detention records

Black Alliance for Just Immigration → 
Guide to Obtaining Detention Records → 
BAJI has a number of helpful resources including this guide to obtaining detention records

Freedom for Immigrants → 
Information to support people in detention. Dedicated to abolishing detention worldwide.
English | Spanish

ICE National Detainee Handbook ​→ 

ICE Stipulations to Removal Explainer → 
Advocates began seeing this stipulation given to people in detention centers in spring 2025. ICE is giving this document to people when they are detained, including people who are already in proceedings in immigration court. Often they are already filled out when presented to the detained person, and advocates have seen them in both English and Spanish. ICE may put a lot of pressure on a person to sign this form, but each person gets to make their own decision about their immigration case and whether this stipulation is right for them. For a person who does not want to wait in detention, this form might help them get deported faster, but it may still take weeks or months to be deported.
​

National Immigrant Justice Center → 
What to do if you or a loved one is detained

National Immigration Law Center → â€‹
Detainee Support Program: Guide for Visiting Immigrant Detainees → 
Detention causes physical and emotional isolation for both the detainee and their family.  This guide provides information on locating detainees and visitation rights.​
How to find a loved one after a US Immigration Raid → â€‹
What do to if you are arrested or detained by immigration → 

San Francisco Immigrant & Legal Education Network (SFILEN) → 
Deportations & Detentions → 
Arabic I Chinese I English I Spanish I Tagalog
Information about what happens if an arrest occurs and what individuals and families can do.

Your Loved One Just Got Detained: What to do in the first 24 hours

bottom of page