ICE Arrested a Family Member: What to Do in the First 24 Hours
A practical emergency guide for immigrant families in the United States
When ICE arrests a family member, the first hours can be frightening and confusing. You may not know where the person is being held, whether they can call you, what will happen to their immigration case, or how to protect children and other dependents.
Panic can lead to mistakes. The most useful response is to establish the person's location, preserve important records, contact qualified immigration counsel, and identify any urgent legal or family needs.
This guide explains what relatives can do during the first 24 hours after an immigration arrest — and what they should avoid doing.
Important: This is general educational information, not individualized legal advice. The right response depends on the person's immigration history, current proceedings, criminal history, detention status, and other circumstances. If removal may be imminent, seek urgent legal assistance.
The First 24 Hours: Your Emergency Checklist
If ICE has detained your family member, work through these steps as quickly as the circumstances allow.
Confirm who made the arrest and collect the available details.
Find the person's A-Number and search ICE's Online Detainee Locator.
If the person does not appear in the locator, contact the appropriate ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations field office.
Contact a qualified immigration attorney or a reputable nonprofit legal-services organization.
Gather immigration documents, court notices, prior applications, and any existing removal orders.
Identify urgent medical needs, prescription medications, dependent children, and caregiving responsibilities.
Record a timeline of the arrest and preserve relevant messages, documents, and witness information.
Do not sign, submit, or withdraw immigration documents on the person's behalf without understanding the legal consequences.
You do not need to solve the entire immigration case in one day. Your immediate priorities are to locate the person, prevent avoidable mistakes, and make sure a qualified professional can assess the case.
Step 1: Find Out Where ICE Is Holding Your Family Member
Start with the official ICE Online Detainee Locator System:
The system allows searches using either an Alien Registration Number (A-Number) and country of birth, or biographical information.
If you have the A-Number
The A-Number is an immigration identification number, generally consisting of nine digits. It may appear on immigration notices, work authorization records, green card documents, and other immigration paperwork.
Use the number exactly as recorded, including any leading zeros, and select the correct country of birth.
If you do not have the A-Number
Search using the person's first and last names and country of birth. The locator may require additional identifying information, such as the person's date of birth.
Names must match the detention record. Try the person's legal name as it appears on immigration documents and check spelling carefully.
What if the person is not listed?
Do not automatically assume the person has been released.
ICE explains that records may not appear immediately after detention, and some individuals are not listed in the public locator. The system also does not provide records for detained minors under 18.
If you cannot find the person:
Contact the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations field office responsible for the area where the arrest occurred.
Ask the arresting agency, if known, whether the person was transferred to another facility or agency.
Keep a record of every call, including dates, names, reference numbers, and instructions.
Repeat the locator search as appropriate.
Official resources:
ICE detainee locator: https://locator.ice.gov/
ICE detention facilities: https://www.ice.gov/detention-facilities
ICE field offices: https://www.ice.gov/contact/field-offices
ICE's Detention Reporting and Information Line is 1-888-351-4024. Check the official locator page for its current operating hours and the types of inquiries it can address.
Step 2: Contact an Immigration Attorney as Soon as Possible
An arrest does not tell you everything about the person's legal situation. The person may have an ongoing immigration court case, a pending application, a prior removal order, or another issue that requires urgent review.
Look for an attorney experienced in immigration detention and removal defense, particularly if the person:
Has previously received a removal or deportation order.
Missed an immigration court hearing.
Has a pending asylum claim or was previously denied asylum.
Has an arrest, criminal charge, or conviction.
Has an upcoming court date or a scheduled removal.
Has a medical emergency or a serious risk of harm if returned to their country.
Ask the attorney to determine the person's current procedural status, identify any imminent deadlines, and assess whether release, a bond hearing, a challenge to a prior order, or another form of relief may be available.
Do not assume that every detained person qualifies for bond or release. Eligibility depends on the applicable law and the facts of the case.
Does the government provide a free immigration lawyer?
In ordinary removal proceedings, people generally have the right to be represented by an attorney of their choosing, but the government does not generally have to appoint and pay for that attorney.
If the family cannot afford private counsel, contact reputable nonprofit legal-services providers and ask about detention representation, emergency consultations, or referrals.
You can also consult the Department of Justice's official list of recognized organizations and accredited representatives:
Verify that anyone offering representation is authorized to provide the service. Be cautious of notarios or other people who promise immigration results without the required legal credentials.
Step 3: Understand What Your Family Member Should Avoid Signing
During detention, a person may receive documents concerning their immigration status, proceedings, departure, or available procedural options.
The legal effect of a document depends on what it is and the circumstances in which it is presented.
Where possible, your family member should ask to consult an immigration attorney before signing documents they do not understand, especially documents that may waive a hearing, an appeal, or another legal right.
Do not rely on a document's title alone. Ask the attorney to review the actual document and explain:
What rights or options it affects.
Whether it changes the person's ability to appear before an immigration judge.
Whether it affects an existing application or defense.
Whether a deadline is approaching.
Whether signing it could accelerate removal or limit future options.
Do not advise your relative to lie, use false documents, resist officers physically, or destroy evidence. Those actions can create additional legal problems.
Step 4: Gather the Immigration File
The family may be able to help the attorney work more efficiently by assembling a clear, organized record.
Collect copies of whatever is available:
Identity and immigration records
Passport and identity documents.
A-Number and prior immigration notices.
Green card, employment authorization, visa, or other status documents.
Copies of applications and receipt notices.
Any prior removal, deportation, or voluntary departure orders.
Court and legal records
Notices to Appear and hearing notices.
Immigration judge decisions and appeal documents.
Asylum applications and related evidence.
Documents from previous attorneys.
Criminal charging documents, court dispositions, and sentencing records, if applicable.
Evidence of urgent circumstances
Medical records and prescriptions.
Evidence of dependent children or caregiving responsibilities.
Relevant proof of family relationships.
Documents supporting a possible immigration defense or application.
Keep originals safe and make copies for the attorney. Do not alter documents or create evidence that did not exist.
If you do not have everything, do not delay the first attorney consultation while trying to collect a perfect file.
Step 5: Protect Children and Other Dependents
An immigration arrest can immediately affect people who depend on the detained family member for care, income, transportation, or medical support.
If children are involved, arrange safe care with a trusted adult and contact their school or childcare provider when appropriate. Make sure the designated caregiver has the information and authorization needed for pickup and emergencies.
Also consider:
Who will obtain essential medication or attend medical appointments?
Who can access funds needed for rent, food, and childcare?
Are there urgent bills or legal obligations that cannot be postponed?
Does the family need a lawful, documented arrangement for temporary caregiving?
Are there language-access needs when communicating with agencies or counsel?
If a child has been detained or separated from a parent, tell the attorney immediately. ICE's information line can also address certain unresolved issues involving the separation of minor children and parents.
Do not assume that a relative automatically has legal authority to make medical, educational, or other decisions for a child. The appropriate arrangements depend on the circumstances and applicable state law.
Step 6: Establish Contact With the Detention Facility
Once you identify the facility, contact it to learn the current procedures for telephone calls, visitation, sending funds, and delivering permitted documents.
Facility procedures vary. A detained person may not be able to call immediately, and the family may need to follow specific instructions to receive calls or arrange visits.
Prepare a short, practical message for your relative if contact becomes possible:
Tell them the family knows they have been detained.
Give them the attorney's name and contact details, if one has been retained.
Ask whether they have received any new documents or court notices.
Ask whether they have urgent medical or medication needs.
Remind them not to sign documents they do not understand without first seeking legal advice when possible.
Do not ask the detained person to discuss sensitive case details over a communication channel without first understanding its privacy limitations. Ask the attorney how best to communicate privileged information.
Step 7: Check the Immigration Court Case and Deadlines
An ICE arrest and an immigration court case are not the same thing. Some people are detained while proceedings are pending; others may have prior orders or face different procedural circumstances.
If the person has an A-Number, check the Executive Office for Immigration Review's Automated Case Information system:
You can also call the EOIR case information line at 1-800-898-7180.
These tools can provide certain court information, but they do not replace review of the person's actual court file, notices, and orders. The absence of a result does not establish that no case exists.
Tell the attorney immediately if you discover:
An upcoming hearing.
A missed hearing.
A previous in absentia removal order.
A final removal order.
A recent denial of asylum or other relief.
An appeal or motion with a pending deadline.
A scheduled removal or other urgent ICE action.
Deadlines can be strict. For example, an appeal from many immigration judge decisions must be received by the Board of Immigration Appeals within 30 calendar days. Special rules apply to particular decisions, and an appeal is not the same as a motion to reopen.
If your relative has a prior order, see our related guide: Deportation Defense: How to Avoid Deportation, Fight Removal and Protect Your Right to Stay in the U.S.
Step 8: If Removal May Be Imminent, Say So Immediately
If ICE has told the family that removal is scheduled, or the person has a final order, tell the attorney that this is an emergency.
The attorney needs to assess the actual procedural posture and determine whether a lawful challenge, stay request, motion, appeal, or other option is available.
Filing a motion or contacting an attorney does not automatically stop deportation. Some requests require a separate stay, and not every person is eligible for every remedy.
Do not rely on a social media post, an online template, or an unverified claim that a particular filing will prevent removal. A mistaken assumption about a stay can have serious consequences.
What NOT to Do in the First 24 Hours
Avoid these common mistakes:
1. Do not assume that no locator result means the person is free. Records can be delayed or unavailable.
2. Do not wait for every document before seeking legal help. Start with the information you have.
3. Do not sign or submit documents for the detained person without authority. You could unintentionally affect their case.
4. Do not pay someone who guarantees release or promises to stop deportation. No legitimate professional can guarantee a particular result.
5. Do not miss court notices or deadlines while focusing only on detention. The court case may continue to have separate requirements.
6. Do not publish private immigration documents or sensitive case details online. Protect A-Numbers, birth dates, addresses, and other identifying information.
7. Do not cancel essential public benefits or make major immigration decisions out of fear. Seek advice based on the family's specific circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to find someone in ICE detention?
There is no universal timeline. Information may not appear immediately, and some people do not appear in the public locator. If the search fails, contact the appropriate ICE field office and repeat the search as appropriate.
Can I visit or call my family member in detention?
Often there are ways to communicate, but the rules depend on the facility. Contact the detention center directly for current telephone, visitation, and document-delivery procedures.
Can ICE deport my family member immediately after arrest?
An arrest alone does not establish that removal will occur immediately. The person's case history, existing orders, procedural rights, and applicable law matter. If a final order or scheduled removal exists, obtain urgent legal advice.
Can my relative get out of detention on bond?
Possibly, but not everyone is eligible. Eligibility and the process depend on the person's circumstances and the applicable legal rules. An attorney should review the case rather than assuming a bond hearing is available.
What if my family member has a final deportation order?
Tell the attorney immediately and provide every prior court decision and immigration notice. Depending on the facts, a motion to reopen, a motion to reconsider, an appeal-related issue, a stay request, or another procedure may be relevant. These remedies have different requirements and do not automatically prevent removal.
What if my family member missed immigration court?
A missed hearing can lead to an order of removal in absentia. Depending on the circumstances, it may be possible to seek reopening and rescission of that order. The deadlines and legal grounds are specific, so get the hearing record and notice history reviewed promptly.
What if the detained person is afraid to return to their country?
Tell the attorney as soon as possible. Any fear of persecution, torture, or other serious harm should be communicated clearly to qualified counsel. The appropriate legal process depends on the person's circumstances and procedural history.
Can I handle the immigration case myself for my relative?
You can help locate records, arrange communication, coordinate care, and find legal assistance. However, you should not assume you are authorized to represent the person or make legal decisions on their behalf. Immigration representation has specific requirements.
The Bottom Line
When ICE arrests a family member, the first 24 hours should focus on five priorities: locate the person, contact qualified legal help, preserve the immigration file, protect dependent children, and identify urgent court or removal deadlines.
You do not have to understand every immigration procedure before taking the first step. You do need to avoid assumptions, preserve the facts, and get the case reviewed as quickly as the circumstances require.
Immigrants.live helps immigrant families understand complicated immigration procedures and find the right questions to ask when the stakes are high.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Immigration laws, policies, court procedures, and individual circumstances vary. Consult a qualified immigration attorney about your specific case.
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