Houston Contract Detention Facility
Houston Field Office · 15850 Export Plaza Drive, Houston, TX 77032
Quick facts
- Address
- 15850 Export Plaza Drive, Houston, TX 77032
- Phone (to ask about someone held here)
- (281) 449-1481
- ICE field office
- Houston Field Office (field office contacts (opens in new tab))
- Official page
- ICE: Houston Contract Detention Facility (opens in new tab)
- Find someone
- ICE Online Detainee Locator (opens in new tab) · locator guide
- Court case status
- 1-800-898-7180 (EOIR, 24 hours)
First: this is civil detention
ICE detention is civil, not a criminal sentence. There is no sentence to serve, so there are no sentence credits (good time) and no release date to calculate. Release depends on the immigration case: a bond, an immigration judge's decision, or an ICE decision.
There is no right to a free lawyer in immigration court. The law allows a lawyer "at no expense to the Government" (8 U.S.C. 1362 (opens in new tab)). Look for free or low-cost help on the EOIR list of pro bono providers (opens in new tab) and from accredited representatives (opens in new tab).
Watch for scams: a "notario" is not a lawyer in the U.S. Don't pay anyone who promises results. How to spot a scam.
General information, not legal advice. Every case is different.
Contacting someone held here
From the official ICE page, checked 2026-10-21. Rules change; confirm with the facility.
If you need information about a detainee that is housed at this facility, you may call (281) 449-1481 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. When you call, please have the individual’s biographical information ready, including first, last and hyphenated names, any aliases he or she may use, date of birth and country of birth.
Detainees cannot receive incoming calls. If you need to get in touch with a detainee to leave an urgent message, you must call (281) 449-1481 and leave the detainee’s full name, alien registration number and your name and telephone number where you can be reached. The detainee will be given your message.
This facility has ICE tablets. You access information on how to send a non-confidential message at: Help Center - GettingOut.
Visiting hours and rules
From the official ICE page, checked 2026-10-21. Rules change; confirm with the facility.
Friends and Family Visits
Sundays through Wednesdays
Males: 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Females: 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Thursdays through Saturdays
Males: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Females: 7 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Segregation Visits
5 p.m. - 7 p.m. (everyday)
Visitation days will alternate according to the last digit of the detainee's A# number whether EVEN or ODD.
CCA/HPC provides an opportunity for you to have one (1) visit per week (Monday-Sunday) for up to one (1) hour of non-contact visitation with family and friends according to the schedule. If there are more visitors than can be accommodated in the visiting room, it may be necessary to limit visits to lesser periods of time. Visiting periods can also be shortened due to security risks, count or other unanticipated events.
For approval for visits on days that are not scheduled for your dorm or for extended visits due to long distance travel or other extenuating circumstances, submit a Request for Information form to the Chief of Security.
If visitor(s) bring children (seventeen (17) years of age or under) they are expected to remain under the direct supervision of the adult visitor(s) so they will not disturb others who have visitor(s). Only two (2) adults and two (2) minor children (ages seventeen (17) and under) will be allowed to visit at a time, as space is limited.
You should discourage visitors from bringing large quantities of hand carried items. The visitor(s) may be required to leave certain items in a locker or in their vehicle. All visitors and item(s) are subject to search.
You will need to notify visitors of these hours and procedures and that they must bring a government issued picture I.D. (for ages eighteen (18) and up) in order to be allowed to visit.
Visitors must be in appropriate and socially acceptable attire. The following clothing is prohibited: Shorts, above mid-thigh mini skirt, short dresses, tank tops, sleeveless shirts and any see-through clothing during visitation.
Adult visitors must present a valid, verifiable government-issued identification card to enter the facility.
Minors who are visiting the facility must be accompanied by an adult guardian (18 years or older). Minors must not be left unaccompanied in the waiting room, visiting room or any other area.
Attorney Visits
Attorneys and/or paralegals of detainees are authorized to visit their clients during the following hours:
Seven days a week from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., including holidays.
On the day of court, legal representatives may arrive as early as 6:30 a.m.
A list of pro bono (free) legal organizations will be posted in all detainee housing units and other appropriate areas. This list shall be updated quarterly. If a detainee wishes to see a representative or paralegal from that organization, it is the detainee’s responsibility to contact them for an appointment.
Video Teleconferencing and Legal Phone Calls
Legal representatives must request video teleconference (VTC) meetings and/or confidential legal phone calls with their clients or prospective clients through ERO eFile. All scheduled appointments through ERO eFile will receive confirmation notifications through ERO eFile.
Please see the flyer for details.
Appointments are subject to availability during the following times: Seven days a week from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., including holidays. Appointments are scheduled in 60-minute intervals. Legal representatives and/or their authorized paralegals/legal assistants are not limited on the number of virtual legal visit appointments they can request, but no legal representative(s) and/or paralegal/legal assistant is permitted more than one 60-minute appointment with a detainee in a single day. Scheduling and applicable rules are subject to change pending demand and availability.
All appointments through ERO eFile will include the:
Legal representative’s full name
Legal representative’s contact information, including phone number(s) and email address
Detainee’s name
Detainee’s alien number (otherwise a search may be done utilizing the detainee’s name, date of birth, and country of birth)
In some situations, a legal representative may also be required to confirm the detention facility location of the detainee.
Appointments will require the following attachments uploaded in ERO eFile (otherwise appointments may be subject to cancellation):
A scan of the legal representative’s government issued identification
A scan of the legal representative’s identification or documentation reflecting their status as an active legal representative, such as a state bar card, attorney license, paralegal license, or similar legal status
A copy of the attorney’s ERO eFiled G-28 (unless this is a pre-representational visit)
If a legal assistant is the only legal representative to join the call, the email should also attach a letter of authorization on the firm’s/organization’s letterhead and a scan of the assistant’s identification
If a legal representative is making a request consistent with PBNDS 2011 Section 5.7 (V.N.1) and Section 4.3 (V.FF), the legal representative must upload the written request in the Attorney Authorization Letter field and the Professional Licensure/Curriculum Vitae to the Medical/Mental Health Evaluators field.
Legal representatives requesting a VTC meeting should notate their Zoom link, meeting ID, and passcode in the Virtual Meeting Information section for the appointment in ERO eFile. Legal representatives requesting a phone call only should notate accordingly and provide the phone number the facility should call. (This is required before being able to select an available appointment time.)
Please note, appointments may be scheduled up to 2 weeks in advance, but no later than 24 hours prior to the appointment. Appointments are on a first-come basis. If scheduled appointments are no longer required, please cancel or reschedule the appointment in advance.
Legal representative’s failure to abide by the Virtual Attorney Visitation guidelines may result in the immediate cancellation or termination of a VTC session and/or suspension of future requests. The facility reserves the right to cancel or reschedule appointments in the event of safety/security risk at the facility and also to ensure equal access to legal visitation by other legal representatives and aliens. Also, legal representatives and their staff are not permitted to video or audio record during any virtual or in-person visit or any call with aliens at the facility. Any violation of these rules may result in suspension or a permanent revocation of VAV user privileges.
The same guidelines for in-person attorney/client visits apply to VTC meetings and legal calls. Only legal representatives, legal assistants, and interpreters are allowed; no family or friends of the clients are permitted. The attorney and/or his/her agents may contact outside interpretation services during the call or session. The sessions are confidential; a visitation officer will be stationed outside of the confidential room to ensure security by standing out of earshot but within eyeshot. The officer will knock 5 minutes before the cut off time.
If there is no available time slot or if you have an exigent circumstance, you may contact houstoncourtvisitation@corecivic.com or call (281) 449-1481.
Electronic Exchange of Legal Documentation
When timely communication through the mail is not possible, the facility administrator may, in his discretion, allow for a reasonable amount of electronic written communication by means between the detained alien and their designated legal representative.
Faxes/Emails Sent by Legal Representatives to the Attention of Detained Aliens
Legal representatives can send legal correspondence to houstoncourtvisitation@corecivic.com. Legal Representatives should make clear in the subject line that it is legal correspondence/mail and include as an attachment the specific documents/forms that the legal representative wants the facility to deliver to the detained alien. Within the email the legal representative should include the following information and a cover sheet for the attachment that includes the:
Alien full name
A-Number
Sender’s return fax number
Total number of pages sent
Notate the correspondence is “Legal Mail”
The documents will be inspected for contraband, but not read. The legal mail will be delivered to the detainee. All legal electronic communication requests will be processed during normal business hours daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. excluding holidays.
Consular Visits
Consular officials may meet with their detained nationals at any time. It is requested that prior arrangements be made with the ICE Supervisory Deportation Officer to the extent possible, and that consular officials bring appropriate credentials when they come to the facility. The ICE Supervisory Deportation Officer for this facility can be reached at (281) 985-8400.
Clergy Visits
Clergy may visit detainees at any time, but must make prior arrangements with the Chaplain’s Office.
Visiting Restrictions
All family or other social visits are non-contact.
No firearms or weapons of any kind are permitted in the facility.
If visitors are or appear to be intoxicated, visitation will not be allowed.
All visitors are subject to search while in the facility.
Visitors are not allowed to pass or attempt to pass any items to detainees.
Visitors are not allowed to carry any items into the visitation area.
Search Procedures (prior to or during all visitations)
All individuals requesting admittance to the facility or the visitation area are subject to a pat-down search of their person, an inspection of their belongings, and a metal scan search. Individuals refusing to cooperate with a reasonable search will not be admitted. No firearms or weapons of any kind are permitted. No electronic devices (cell phones, pagers, radios, etc.) are permitted in the secure areas of this facility.
Money, mail and sending items
From the official ICE page, checked 2026-10-21. Rules change; confirm with the facility.
Letters sent to detainees must include the last four digits of the detainee’s A-number (File Number), plus the sender’s name and address. To enhance the safety of the facility, all incoming mail is subject to screening for contraband. The mail is not read upon opening, only inspected by the delivering officer. Detainees may send mail from the facility. Detainees may seal their outgoing letters and place them in the provided receptacle. All incoming mail will be delivered to the detainee, and outgoing mail will be routed to the proper postal office within 24 hours of receipt by facility staff. A mail pick-up and delivery schedule is posted in all housing units.
Detainees are allowed to purchase stamps for use. Generally, there is no limit to the amount of correspondence detainees may send at their own expense. Indigent detainees (those who have no means of financial support and no funds in their facility account) will be provided postage allowance at government expense.
When detainees depart the facility or are transferred to another facility, only their legal mail will be forwarded to them. General correspondence will be endorsed "Return to Sender" and returned to the post office.
Money can be placed on the detainee's account by calling Western Union at 1-800-225-5227 or via website www.WesternUnion.com or via United States Postal Service, Houston Contract Detention Facility 15850 Export Plaza Drive Houston, TX 77032, and reference detainee name on money order.
If detainees receive funds in the mail, they will be taken to the processing area for the money to be placed into their account. The processing officer will provide a receipt for all funds received. Detainees are cautioned not to have cash sent to them in the mail.
A detainee may receive items that are determined to be of necessity for the sole purpose of travel or release from agency custody with approval of the ICE Deportation Officer. Before sending packages to detainees, contact the Chief of Security at the facility at:
Corrections Corporation of America
15850 Export Plaza Drive
Houston, Texas 77032
Note that detainees being removed from the United States are allowed one small piece of luggage. If a detainee does not have such baggage, such luggage can be sent/delivered after receiving approval from Supervisory Deportation Officer. Please be advised that for security reasons, no electronic devices (cell phones, electric razors, laptop computers, radios, etc.) will be accepted.
Source: ICE facility page (opens in new tab) and ICE detention facility list (opens in new tab). Not legal advice. Other facilities in Texas · Legal help · Bond and court
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