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Find someone held by ICE

The official ICE locator, step by step, and what to do if it shows nothing.

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.

Use the official locator (ODLS)

Open the ICE Online Detainee Locator (opens in new tab)

The locator offers two searches:

  • A-Number (alien registration number) and country of birth. This is the most precise search.
  • First and last name, country of birth and date of birth.

The form only lists birth years for adults (18 or older).

If it shows nothing

  1. Try other forms of the name: both family names, with and without a hyphen, other spellings and aliases.
  2. Double-check the country of birth and date of birth.
  3. If you have the A-Number, search with it (it is on earlier immigration papers).
  4. If they were just picked up, wait and search again later.
  5. Call the ICE field office (ERO) (opens in new tab) that covers where they were picked up, with their full name, aliases, date and country of birth.
  6. Call the facility where they might be. Each facility page has the official number for asking about a detained person.
  7. Talk to a lawyer or accredited representative: see legal help.

ICE facility pages ask callers to have ready: first, last and hyphenated names, any aliases, date of birth and country of birth.

After you find them

Open the facility page for visiting, phone, money and mail, and check the case under bond and court.

Sources: ICE, the Justice Department's Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), USCIS, and the laws and rules linked above. Checked 2026-10-21.

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