Be aware that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is in charge of catching, detaining and deporting foreigners who have flouted U.S. laws.
The Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS) is a public system to which you can have access via Internet to locate individuals held in detention, meaning someone who is in ICE custody.
It means that an individual is in an ICE Detention Center. The ODLS provides the name of the detention center where the individual is held as well as contact information to the center in order to visit him/ her. Contact information of the office responsible for the case will be provided as well.
It means that an individual has been released from ICE custody within the last 60 days. In other words, it is possible that the detainee is no longer in the U.S.
1Foreigner’s Registration Number (detainee’s A-Number) and birth country.
The A-Number is a nine-digits number that is assigned to an individual asking for immigration benefits or subject to immigration control processes. It can be found on the upper right-hand corner of the Notice to Appear (NTA), form I-862.
2Last name, name and country of origin.
- Call the center and use the information provided to confirm the person is there (since ODLS information may be as much as 8-hours old.)
- If you decide to visit the detainee, you need to previously call the detention center to verify the working hours and visit rules. To visit the center, you will need an I.D, with a photograph, provided by the government.
- Check the Detention and Deportation Offices section where you will find the location to the Detention and Deportation Offices and a contact number to have more information on the case of the person you are looking for, as well as further details on the legal process.
- Be aware that detainees cannot receive phone calls. However, you can ask for information.
- For further questions please visit the Frequently asked questions
The ODLS does not provide information regarding the location of every individual in ICE’s custody, to guarantee the security and protection of the agency. For instance, information on minors will not be provided nor information regarding people who have not been registered in the system due to processing time and data upload.
Sources:
- (2010). ¿Cómo localizo a alguien bajo detención inmigratoria? Sistema Localizador de Detenidos en Línea (Online Detainee Locator System). [pdf] Retrieved from: https://www.ice.gov/doclib/news/library/factsheets/pdf/odls-brochure-esp.pdf
- USAGov in Spanish. (2019). Deportación. [Web Site]. Retrieved from: https://www.usa.gov/espanol/deportacion