Detention facilities are being used frequently as a way to manage removable or undocumented immigrants after those immigrants have been arrested. It can be very difficult to discover information about an ICE detainee, including their whereabouts after this person has been picked up. A detained immigrant’s family may need to turn to an immigration attorney to assist them.

Why Does the Government Detain Immigrants?

The government will typically take action to detain immigrants including detainees through ICE because they believe that the person is a flight risk, poses a public safety threat, or might move to another location within the United States. The government can more easily secure the immigrant’s appearance in front of an immigration court by using detention centers.

What Are the Reasons Someone Can Be Detained?

An immigrant can be put into ICE detainee status through Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the Department of Homeland Security.

Some of the reasons that a person might be detained include:

• Being accused of or convicted of committing a crime or multiple crimes.
• Having an outstanding removal deportation order on record.
• Not showing up at previous immigration hearing dates.
• Arriving at the border without a visa and not formally applying for refugee or asylum status.

It can be hard for family members to track down a loved one who has been detained in a Core Civic Detention Center and this raises many questions the conditions of that detention. Some allege that detainees are being forced to work or are threatened with isolation if the person refused. Others say the centers are running a “voluntary” work program paying $1 per day could entitle California detainees to protection under labor laws.

How Could a Family Member Find Out Where Someone is Detained?

A person’s location could potentially be identified by looking at the ICE detainee locator website. In the event that the person was recently detained, however, the website might not contain the most recent information.

If the person is not being held in a detention facility operated by ICE, he or she could be in a local correctional facility or jail, which means that family members might begin making phone calls to discover whether or not their loved one is there.

What Is the Purpose of the Deportation Officer in a Detainee Case?

Every detainee is assigned one deportation officer. This officer has the discretion to provide stipulated removal, release from detention or voluntary departure. Any offers that are made by the deportation officer should be carefully removed and forms of relief explored.

How Old Are Immigration Detention Centers?

Immigration detainee centers
began in the 1890s at Alice Island in the United States. Mandatory detention was originally authorized by President Bill Clinton in 1996.

What Are the Conditions in Immigration Facilities?

Many detainees inside a center reportedly discover that an immigration detention is not much different than prison or jail because local police, sheriff’s departments or ICE operate these facilities independently.

News stories have covered some of the deplorable condition in ICE immigration detention centers. A recent USA Today story profiled that the fourth person in six months passed away while inside an ICE immigration detention center.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.