Having a loved one held in an ICE detention facility is one of the hardest things a family can go through. The phone goes quiet, nobody explains the rules, and the worry fills in the blanks. The good news is that you can stay in touch. Detainees are allowed to make calls, receive mail, and in many cases have visitors, and there are concrete steps you can take today to reopen that line of communication.
Here is how to find your loved one, set up their phone and commissary accounts, send money and mail, and arrange a visit.
Step 1: Locate Your Loved One
The first step is knowing where they are being held. When a detainee is transferred, they are normally allowed a call to a family member to say they are being moved. You can also search the ICE Online Detainee Locator System.
You can search by name, date of birth, and country of birth. A more reliable search is by A number (Alien Registration Number), the nine digit number ICE assigns to each person in immigration proceedings. If you have a copy of any immigration paperwork, the A number is usually printed at the top.
If your loved one was picked up in the last day or two, see our guide on what to do in the first 48 hours after an ICE detention.
Step 2: Set Up Phone and Commissary Accounts
Once you know which facility is holding your loved one, visit that facility’s website to learn how to put money on their books. You will usually need two separate accounts: one for phone calls and one for commissary, which is the facility store where detainees buy food, stamps, and hygiene items. Funds normally cannot be moved between the two, so plan on funding each one.
Who provides phone and commissary service in ICE facilities
Different detention facilities contract with different vendors, so you need to identify the specific company used where your loved one is held. The companies you will run into most often are:
- Securus Technologies / ConnectNetwork (owned by Aventiv Technologies): phone, video calls, and money transfers
- GTL / ViaPath Technologies, including the GettingOut app: phone, tablet, and video services
- JPay, now part of ViaPath: money transfers, tablets, and messaging
- ICSolutions / TouchPay: phone service and commissary deposits
- Access Corrections: commissary and trust account deposits
- Keefe Commissary Network / Trinity Services Group: commissary accounts
A few real examples
- Cimarron Correctional Facility, Cushing, Oklahoma (operated by CoreCivic): phone service and video visitation run through ConnectNetwork (Securus Technologies).
- Diamondback Correctional Facility, Watonga, Oklahoma (operated by CoreCivic): phone service and money deposits are handled through ConnectNetwork (Securus Technologies).
- Prairieland Detention Facility, Alvarado, Texas (operated by LaSalle Corrections): LaSalle facilities commonly use TouchPay for deposits and Securus, GTL, or ICSolutions for phone service. Confirm the current vendor directly with the facility.
Vendors change, and each facility contracts on its own. Always confirm the correct company and website with the facility or with your loved one before you send anything. Money sent to the wrong provider can be delayed for weeks or lost.
What happens to the money if they are transferred
If your loved one is moved to a different facility, funds left on their books do not automatically follow them. Ask whether the remaining balance can be transferred to the new facility or whether it will be returned to them at release. This is a common way families lose money, so it is worth asking before you load a large amount onto an account.
Step 3: Send Money by Mail
Some facilities have strict ID requirements or accept only certain credit cards, which can make it impossible to open an online account. In that case you can usually mail a money order instead. Cash cannot be sent through the mail. The money order must clearly list the detainee’s full legal name and A number, exactly as the facility has them on file.
Step 4: Send Mail and Packages
Most detention centers allow detainees to receive mail, and some allow packages. Ask your loved one about the rules at their specific location, because they vary a lot. Packages are usually only permitted once a detainee is scheduled for release or deportation.
Detainees are typically assigned an ICE officer for their case who can explain the rules for sending items such as clothing, toiletries, and documents needed at release or removal. Electronic devices and cash are almost never allowed.
For any mail, whether a letter, a document, or a package (usually under 30 pounds), write the detainee’s complete name and A number on a visible part of the envelope. Some facilities also require the detainee to submit, in advance, a list of people they will accept mail or visits from.
Step 5: Visitation
Many detention centers allow family visits. The detainee has to add visitors to an approved list ahead of time, and facility staff approve it. Visitors are often U.S. citizen children or a U.S. citizen spouse.
One important warning: a person who is out of immigration status should not visit a detention center or jail. Government issued ID is generally required to enter, and the risk is not worth it. Send a letter instead, or ask a family member with status to go.
Quick Reference: What You Need Before You Start
| What you want to do | What you need | Where to go |
|---|---|---|
| Find your loved one | A number, or full name, date of birth, and country of birth | ICE Online Detainee Locator |
| Pay for phone calls | Detainee name, A number, facility name, credit card, your photo ID | The phone vendor for that facility |
| Add commissary money | Same information, separate account | The commissary vendor for that facility |
| Send money by mail | Money order with full name and A number | Facility mailing address |
| Send a letter | Full name and A number on the envelope | Facility mailing address |
| Visit | To be on the approved visitor list, plus government issued ID | Facility visitation desk or website |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find out which ICE facility my family member is in?
Use the ICE Online Detainee Locator System at locator.ice.gov. Search by A number for the most reliable result, or by full name, date of birth, and country of birth. People who were detained in the last several hours may not appear yet, so check again the next day.
Can I call a detainee directly?
No. Detainees call out; you cannot call in. That is why funding a phone account matters so much. Depending on the facility and the vendor, you may be able to set up a prepaid account tied to your own phone number so your loved one can reach you without using their own limited funds.
How much money should I put on the books?
Start small until you know the calling rates at that facility and whether a transfer is coming. Rates vary by vendor. Loading a few hundred dollars right before a transfer is a common and avoidable mistake.
What is an A number and where do I find it?
An A number, or Alien Registration Number, is the nine digit ID number the government assigns to a person in immigration proceedings. It appears on immigration paperwork, work permits, green cards, and notices from immigration court. Almost every account, money order, and envelope will require it.
Can my loved one receive packages in ICE detention?
Sometimes, and usually only when release or deportation has been scheduled. Ask the assigned ICE officer or the facility before sending anything. Electronics and cash are not permitted.
Is it safe for me to visit if I do not have immigration status?
No. Entering a detention center or jail generally requires government issued ID, and going in person puts you at risk. Ask a family member with status to visit, and stay connected through calls and mail.
What if my loved one is transferred to another state?
You start over with the new facility. Look them up in the detainee locator again, check which vendors that facility uses, and ask whether the old balance transfers. Transfers are common, sometimes with little notice.
Can I get my loved one released while their case is pending?
In many cases yes, through an immigration bond. Read our explainer on how immigration bonds work and how to get a loved one released from ICE detention.
Staying Connected Matters
Staying in touch with a detained loved one is a lifeline for both of you. Knowing your rights, learning the rules at that specific facility, and understanding what the detainee is allowed to have goes a long way toward keeping hope alive during a brutal stretch of time.
We Can Help You Through This
The community advocate at Rivas & Associates helps families locate a detained relative, set up phone and commissary accounts, and figure out the next step. You do not have to work it out alone.
Call (844) 37-RIVAS or send us a message through our contact page to reach someone who does this every day. Learn more about our community advocacy program.
