How to Find Someone Detained by ICE
Start With the ICE Detainee Locator
If someone you know may have been detained by ICE, the first place to check is the official ICE Online Detainee Locator System. It's a free tool run by the federal government that lets you search for adults in ICE custody.
You can search two ways:
- By A-Number and country of birth — if you have the person's Alien Registration Number
- By biographical information — full legal name, date of birth, and country of birth
For step-by-step instructions on how to fill in each field, use our ICE detainee locator guide. It walks through exactly what to enter and what to avoid.
What If You Don't Have the A-Number?
You can still search. The ICE locator has a biographical search option that works with the person's full legal name, date of birth, and country of birth. You don't need the A-Number to try.
The A-Number is helpful when you have it, but not having it doesn't mean the person isn't in custody. It just means you'll search using their name and other details instead.
If you're not sure where to find the A-Number, it often appears on immigration paperwork like notices, court documents, or prior ICE forms. Our locator guide explains where to look.
What If No Record Appears?
A "no record found" result doesn't always mean the person isn't in custody. Start by checking the information you entered.
Here's what to check:
- Double-check every digit of the A-Number. Don't include the letter "A"—just the digits. If the number has eight digits, enter a zero at the beginning.
- Verify the date and country of birth. These must match what ICE has on file. Even a small error can prevent a match.
- Check the full legal name and surname variations. Hyphenated names, compound surnames, or alternative spellings can cause a search to miss. Try the name exactly as it would appear on an official document.
- Consider how recent the detention is. If the person was just detained, their information may not appear in the system yet. Records are not always updated immediately.
- The person may have been transferred. ICE moves people between facilities, sometimes across states. The location where someone was arrested may not be where they're currently held.
- The person may be in another agency's custody. Not everyone picked up by local police or another federal agency appears in the ICE locator right away. They may be in local jail, CBP custody, or another federal facility.
After correcting any information, try the search again. If you still can't find the person, you can contact the appropriate ICE ERO field office for the area where the person was likely detained.
The Person May Have Been Transferred
ICE regularly transfers people between detention facilities. Someone arrested in one city or state may be held somewhere entirely different.
Before you travel, send mail, or rely on visitation information, confirm where the person is currently being held. Use the facility shown in the locator as your starting point, then contact the facility to confirm the person is still there before traveling.
If the person is detained in California, see our California detention locations for facility information and next steps.
Confirm the Detention Facility
Once you find the person in the locator, write down:
- The person's full legal name
- Their A-Number
- The current detention facility name
- The facility's address and location
Contact the facility directly to confirm current custody and ask about their procedures for visitation, phone calls, and mail. Each facility has its own rules.
What to Do After You Find Them
Finding someone in ICE custody doesn't automatically mean an immigration bond has been set. A bond amount has to be set by DHS, ICE, or an immigration judge before anyone can post it.
If a bond has been set, Amistad can help you post it. We'll explain the costs, go over cash or property collateral options, and handle the electronic bond submission through ICE eBonds. Learn more about our immigration bond services.
If no bond has been set, or you have questions about whether the person may qualify for one, speak with a licensed immigration attorney. An attorney can review the individual case and explain the legal options that may be available. You can also review our page on bond eligibility and requirements for general information.