Finding the person and the facts
ICE runs an online detainee locator that can find someone by A-number, or by name and country of birth. Detained people are sometimes moved between facilities quickly, so checking more than once is common. Once you find them, try to learn whether they have a prior removal order, whether they are in immigration court, and what paper they were given. The answers decide which procedures apply. If you witnessed the arrest, tell the lawyer what you saw, including the date and place, before writing anything down. A person with a prior order or recent entry may face faster removal procedures without a full hearing.
Bond and what not to sign
Some detained people can ask an immigration judge for release on bond, while others are held without that option. Who is eligible for bond has changed recently and has been heavily litigated, so eligibility needs to be checked against the person's specific entry history. Detained people are sometimes offered documents that agree to removal or departure. If a bond is set, it is paid through ICE, and whoever pays should keep every receipt. Whoever is detained should not sign removal or departure papers, or anything else they do not understand, without legal advice. In some cases a habeas corpus petition in federal court may be an option to challenge detention.
What families can gather
Collect the person's passport, A-number, any immigration papers, and proof of how and when they entered. Records of family ties, such as birth certificates of U.S. citizen children, and evidence of work, community involvement, and medical needs can matter for bond and for any defense. If there was a criminal case, certified records of how it ended are important. When we speak with you, we look at the person's history, the procedure they are in, and the steps available now. We explain the options plainly, without promising release or a result.
