Karnes County Immigration Processing Center

From the official ICE page, checked 2026-10-21. Rules change; confirm with the facility.

If you need information about a detainee housed at this facility, you may call (830) 254-2000 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday-Sunday. When you call, please have the individual’s biographical information ready, including first, last and hyphenated names, any aliases he or she may use, as well as their 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 (830) 254-2000 and leave the detainee’s full name, alien registration number as well as your name and a telephone number where you can be reached. The detainee will be given your message.

This facility has tablets. You can access information on how to send a non-confidential message at www.gettingout.com.

From the official ICE page, checked 2026-10-21. Rules change; confirm with the facility.

Friends and Family Visits

Effective Jul. 27, 2026: visitation hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Beginning and ending times are subject to change depending upon the safe and orderly operation of the facility.

Yellowstone Elm, Yellowstone Pine and Rainforest Cypress: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday only

Redwood Oak, Redwood Cedar and Rainforest Willow: Wednesday, Friday and Sunday only

To ensure adequate time to process visitors through security, all visitors must arrive 30 minutes prior to completion of visitation.

Visits shall be based on the maximum occupancy in the visitation area and are generally limited to 1 hour a week, depending on the number of visitors.

Adult guardians (18 years or older) must accompany minors who are visiting the facility. Minors must not be unaccompanied in the waiting room, visiting room or any other area.

Attorney Visits

Legal representatives of detainees are authorized to visit their clients during the following hours:

Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

A list of pro bono (free) legal organizations is posted in all detainee housing units and other appropriate areas. This list is 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.

Virtual Attorney Visits

For all virtual appointments beginning October 1, 2025, legal representatives must request video teleconference (VTC) meetings 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. Appointments are scheduled in increments of 60 minutes from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Walk-in visits are still permitted.

Please see the VAV flyer for details.

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

Legal representatives should notate their Zoom meeting ID and the passcode in the Virtual Meeting Information section for the appointment in ERO eFile. (This is required before being able to select an available appointment time.)

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 eFile 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’ 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.

Please note appointments may be scheduled up to 2 weeks in advance, but no later than 48 hours prior to the appointment. Appointments are on a first come first serve basis. If a scheduled appointment is no longer required, please cancel or reschedule the appointment in advance. Appointments are scheduled for 60-minute intervals. If you only require a quick phone call with your client, we recommend instead having your client call you.

Legal representatives are limited to 2 hours of appointments in a single day. If a legal representative schedules more than 2 hours of appointments in a day, the visit may be subject to cancellation by the facility. Scheduling and applicable rules are subject to change pending demand and availability.

Please note the facility reserves the right to cancel or reschedule appointments in the event of safety/security risk at the facility and to ensure equal access to legal visitation by other legal representatives and aliens.

The same guidelines for in-person attorney/client visits will apply to VAV meetings and legal calls. Only legal representatives, legal assistants, and interpreters are allowed; family or friends of the clients are not permitted during the VAV meeting. The attorney and/or his/her agents may contact outside interpretation services during the call or session. The sessions will be confidential; a visitation officer is stationed outside of the confidential room to ensure safety and security but will be 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, legal representatives may email at kccdc-bailiff@geogroup.com or call (830) 254-2500.

Faxing Legal Documents

When timely communication through the mail is not possible, the facility administrator may, in his discretion, allow for a reasonable amount of communication between the legal representative and their detained alien client.

For faxes sent by legal representatives to detainees:

Legal representatives may use the visitation fax number (830) 254-2292 to receive and transmit legal paperwork.

Legal representatives transmitting documents must include a cover sheet containing the name of sender, the name of the Law Office, the address, the name and identification number of the detained alien, the number of pages and the date.

GEO staff will place incoming faxes in an envelope with the detainee's name and A# written on the outside. An ICE designee at the facility will hand deliver the faxed documents to the detainee. Facility staff will inspect the incoming documents for contraband in the presence of the detainee. GEO staff will not read the documents.

For faxes sent by detainees to legal representatives

Karnes has placed a fax machine in visitation for detainees to exchange legal documentation with their attorneys. Detainees can notify any staff member verbally or submit a written request to use the fax machine. Staff will send the fax with the detainee present as detainees are generally unfamiliar with the technology and/or fax machine.

Consular Visits

Consular officials may meet with their detained nationals at any time. ICE requests that prior arrangements are made with the ICE Supervisory Detention and Deportation Officer to the extent possible, and that consular officials bring appropriate credentials when they come to the facility. The ICE Supervisory Detention and Deportation Officer in charge of the facility contact number is (830) 254-2500.

Clergy Visits

Clergy may visit detainees at any time but must make prior arrangements with the chaplain’s office at (830) 254-2000.

Visiting Restrictions

Visit sessions will normally be a minimum of one hour a week depending upon the number of visitors and staff availability. The duty facility administrator may authorize more time for family members traveling significant distances. Any disruptive behavior by either party will result in the termination of the visit and the facility administrator can deny future visits because of the disruptive behavior. If visitor(s) bring children (17 years of age or younger) the children are expected to be under direct supervision of the accompanying adult, preventing a disruption of visits by other visitors. The facility does not allow visitors to carry personal items into the visiting area. The facility has provided lockers to secure personal items.

The number of visitors (adult and children) allowed to visit is limited to the space availability and/or to the discretion of the facility administrator.

GEO security staff will search all visitors and any articles in their possession before and after entering the facility. The facility administrator or designee must give permission for items brought into the facility those items are limited to one complete set of clothing and a bag to carry them in, unless the facility administrator or designee has provided prior written authorization to the visitor.

Any unruly or socially inappropriate behavior by either party will end the visit and may have an adverse effect on future visitation.

Visitors who bring children (17 or younger) must closely supervise them so as not to disturb others.

Visitors are responsible for their own transportation to and from the facility.

The facility administrator prohibits the use of profanity, making loud noises, disturbing other detainees or visitors, creating a mess or otherwise being a nuisance in the visitation area.

The visitor and detainee will not exchange items or property during the visit. The visitor will initiate all transactions with the front lobby officer only, who in turn will inventory and provide a receipt for the item(s). The front lobby officer will not accept cash, cashier’s checks from U.S. Banks, and checks from U.S. federal/state entities. The kiosk will be available in the front lobby during the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and accept cash, debit cards and credit cards. Visitors may bring coin money and/or one (1) credit card into the visitation area for the vending machines. Visitors cannot bring dollar bills into the visitation area. No outside food permitted beyond the metal detector.

Visitors with a criminal record or who have previously been detained by ICE or who are in removal proceedings must notify the facility and receive approval from the Facility Administrator prior to entering the facility. This requirement applies to all visits.

Visitor Dress Code

Female Visitors Aged 5 and Older

Shorts will cover customarily covered areas of the anatomy, including the buttocks and crotch area, both when standing and sitting. Shorts no higher than mid-thigh complies. The facility dress code policy prohibits short shorts, jogging shorts, cut-offs, and other obviously inappropriate short garments.

Skirts and dresses will extend to mid-thigh, seated.

Slits in skirts and dresses will rise no higher than mid-thigh, seated.

The facility prohibits Sheer (see-through) clothing.

The top of shirts and dresses (excluding straps) will be no lower than the underarm in the front and back.

The facility prohibits bare midriffs, strapless tops, tube tops, and swimsuits.

Shoes will be always worn. The facility does not allow visitors to wear flip flops or open-toed shoes in the facility.

The facility dress code policy prohibits gang “colors” and other gang displays.

Male Visitors Aged 5 and Older

Shorts will cover customarily covered areas of the anatomy, including the buttocks and crotch area, both when standing and sitting. Shorts no higher than mid-thigh complies. Short shorts, jogging shorts, cut-offs, and other obviously inappropriate short garments are prohibited.

Shirts will be always worn. The facility administrator has prohibited muscle shirts, bare midriff shirts, and sleeveless shirts in the facility.

Shoes will be always worn. The facility does not allow visitors to wear flip flops or open-toed shoes in the facility.

The facility administrator has prohibited Gang “colors” and other gang displays in the facility.

Permissible Items:

Visitors shall be permitted to bring into the facility a clear plastic Ziploc type bag, or change purse.

Each adult visitor is permitted to bring up to $10 in coins and one debit or credit card.

Visitors with infants or small children may bring no more than three diapers, a supply of baby wipes, and two baby bottles, or a "sippy" cup for toddlers, into the facility. These items shall be stored in a clear plastic bag.

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 in the facility. No electronic devices (cell phones, pagers, radios, etc.) are permitted in the secure areas of this facility.

Contraband Items Not Allowed: knives, drugs, medications, food items, purses, wallet, diaper bags, briefcases, cameras, sun glasses, caps/hats, baby strollers, toys, dolls, photographs or photograph albums, paper money, tobacco, lighters, matches, cell phones, smartwatches, pagers, laptop computers, digital recorders, or any other type of electronic or wireless devices or any other non-authorized items.

COVID Visitation

There are no restrictions on visitation in green status.

Under red status:

The facility must provide a facial covering to any visitor who arrives at the facility without one.

The facility has (filled) hand sanitizer dispensers located within view and easy access throughout the visitation areas.

Virtual visitation should be used as an additional method of visitation, not in place of in-person visitation.

In some circumstances, to ensure the greatest number of detainees have access to visitation, the facility may need to limit the number of visits per detainee, while also providing virtual visitation if available.

If a facility limits in-person visitation, the facility will notify the local ICE field office director explaining why the limitation is necessary as a protective measure and the expected timeframe when full in-person visitation will be restored.

The facility has a process in place that allows for social distancing of six or more feet between visitors and detainees, unless separated by a glass or plexiglass partition.

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 (Alien 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.

Cash in possession of a detainee, at the time of his arrival to the facility, will be deposited/receipted to his trust account. Visitors may also deposit cash, only, at the facility, Monday through Friday – excluding holidays. All monies (cash, check, money order) arriving at the facility, via mail, will be returned to the sender. To deposit money to a detainee’s trust account, send money orders and cashier’s checks, only, to:

Karnes County Immigration Processing Center

Detainee’s full name and A-number

409 FM 1144, Karnes City, TX 78118

Note: Cashier’s check or money order must include the detainee’s full name and A-number.

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 facility mail clerk at:

(830) 254-2000

Karnes County Immigration Processing Center

409 FM 1144 Karnes City, TX 78118

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.