How to find out if a relative is detained by ICE

Written by Hassan Benmouloud · Last reviewed: 2026-11-04

Start with the official locator

ICE runs a public search at locator.ice.gov, with two ways to search.

By A-Number. ICE recommends it because it returns a better match. Enter the nine digits, without the "A"; if the number has fewer, add zeros at the beginning (for example, 012345678). Selecting the correct country of birth is also required.

By name. First name, last name and country of birth are required; date of birth (month, day and year) is optional. The names must be an exact match: ICE warns that "John Doe" will not find "Jon Doe" or "John Doe-Smith". Enter hyphenated last names with the hyphen. The form only accepts unaccented letters, numbers, spaces and hyphens.

Tips that resolve most failed searches:

Try one surname and two surnames, separately and together.
Type without accents or ñ: the form does not accept them.
With compound first names ("José Luis"), try the first name alone.
If you add the date of birth, check it against a document; the field is optional.
Check the country of birth: ICE warns that without the correct country you will not find the person.

If they do not appear

Absence from the system does not mean the person is not detained. Common causes:

Data not yet updated. ICE says the information may be up to eight hours old. Try again later.
In CBP custody for less than 48 hours. The locator only shows people who have been in CBP custody for more than 48 hours. Common near the border.
In a county or local jail under an agreement with ICE. Search that county's inmate system.
Under 18. Minors do not appear. Unaccompanied minors go to the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which has a dedicated line for family members.
Misspelled records, which are frequent.

After 72 hours with no result, call the ERO field office for the area where the arrest happened. The directory of field offices is on the ICE website. ICE also points to its Detainee Reporting and Information Line (DRIL), 1-888-351-4024, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time, with Spanish-speaking operators.

What to write down immediately

The full A-Number.
The exact facility name, city and state.
The facility phone number and visiting hours.

With the A-Number you can also check the court case at 1-800-898-7180 or acis.eoir.justice.gov to see whether a hearing is scheduled.

How communication works

You generally cannot call in. The person calls out, collect or from a prepaid account a relative funds. So:

Accept calls from unknown numbers and keep phone credit available.
Open an account with whichever phone provider that facility uses — listed on its page in the ICE directory.
Write down everything the person tells you: dates, officer names, papers they were asked to sign.

To deposit money into the person's commissary account, check the facility's page in the ICE directory: each facility lists the system it uses.

What to do in parallel

Gather documents: passport, children's birth certificates, proof of address and employment, tax returns, support letters. All of it matters at a bond hearing. See also how much an immigration bond costs and how long ICE can detain someone.
Get a lawyer before anything is signed. ICE may offer voluntary departure or a stipulated order that closes the case without a judge. Signing that unadvised is the worst outcome at this stage.
Find out whether there is a prior removal order. If there is, ICE can execute it without a new hearing, and the window is days.
Prepare the rest of the family. Review what to do if ICE comes to your home or workplace and make a plan for the children.

If the arrest happened on a Friday or a weekend, see what happens after an ICE arrest and what to do until Monday.

If you cannot afford a lawyer, the EOIR list of free providers is organized by state.

Step-by-step summary

Search locator.ice.gov by A-Number and country of birth, or by exact first and last name and country of birth (date of birth optional), trying spelling variants.
If there is no result, try again later (ICE data may be up to eight hours old), and consider CBP custody of less than 48 hours, a county jail, or the Office of Refugee Resettlement for minors.
After 72 hours with no result, call the ICE ERO field office for the area of the arrest.
Once found, write down the A-Number, the facility name, city and state, its phone number and visiting hours.
Check the court case with the A-Number at 1-800-898-7180 or acis.eoir.justice.gov.
Set up a phone account with the facility's provider and keep credit available.
Gather documents for a possible bond hearing, and find out whether there is a prior removal order.
Get a licensed attorney before the person signs anything.

More on detention and bond:

Frequently asked questions

Why does my relative not show up in the ICE locator?

They may have been in CBP custody for less than 48 hours, be in a local jail, be under 18, or their details may be recorded differently. Try name variants, check the country of birth, or search by A-Number.

Can I call someone detained by ICE?

Usually not inbound. The detained person calls out, collect or from a prepaid account. Keep credit on your phone and accept unknown numbers.

How do I find which immigration court has the case?

With the A-Number, check the EOIR system at 1-800-898-7180 or acis.eoir.justice.gov.

Talk to a lawyer