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ICE detention facility · Louisiana

Richwood Correctional Center

New Orleans Field Office · 180 Pine Bayou Circle, Monroe, LA 71202

Quick facts

Address
180 Pine Bayou Circle, Monroe, LA 71202
Phone (to ask about someone held here)
(318) 998-5800
ICE field office
New Orleans Field Office (field office contacts (opens in new tab))
Official page
ICE: Richwood Correctional Center (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 (318) 998-5800 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3 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 (318) 325-8409 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.

Visiting hours and rules

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

Friends and Family Visits

Visitation is allowed seven days a week during the following hours:

Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Visitors must present a valid verifiable government-issued identification card to enter the facility.

Visits shall not exceed one hour. Extended visits must be pre-approved by the Facility Administrator or his designee.

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

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

Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday: 12 p.m. to 4 p.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.

Virtual Attorney Visitation (VAV) & Legal Calls

For all VAV appointments and legal calls beginning September 8, 2026, legal representatives must schedule 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 30 minutes from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday​ and 8 ​a.m. to ​1 p.m. ​Saturday and Sunday.

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

For video appointments, facility staff will send Zoom information to the legal representative’s email on file, or place Zoom information in the Virtual Meeting Information, at least 30 minutes prior to the appointment. For phone appointments, facility staff will send the phone number to the legal representative’s email on file, or place it in the Virtual Meeting Information, at least 30 minutes prior to the appointment.

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 VAV session and/or suspension of future requests.

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 first serve basis. If a scheduled appointment is no longer required, please cancel or reschedule the appointment in advance. 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 RichwoodCDPO@lasallecorrections.com or call (318) 325-8409.

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 the following fax numbers: (318) 998-5808 or (318) 998-5810, or emailed during virtual legal visits via outlook.live.com. Please note that a link for the virtual legal visit must be already established to send over documents via the outlook.live.com address.

Please note that legal representative should include a cover letter that includes the following:

Alien Full Name

A-Number

Sender’s Return Fax Number

Total number of pages sent

Notate the correspondence is “Legal Mail”

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 in charge of the facility can be reached at (318) 998-5800 ext. 201.

Clergy Visits

Clergy may visit detainees at any time but must make prior arrangements with the Chaplain’s Office at (318) 325-8409 ext. 133.

Visiting Restrictions

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.

•No electronic devices are permitted in the facility.

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 (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.

Money can be placed on the detainee's account by calling Correct Solutions at (877) 618-3516 or via website www.RegentPay.com or via United States Postal Service, Richwood Correctional Center 180 Pine Bayou Circle Monroe, LA 71202 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 facility mail clerk at:

(318) 325-8409 ext. 100

Sha’Keya Simmons

180 Pine Bayou Circle

Monroe, LA 71202

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 Louisiana · Legal help · Bond and court

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