What to Do If Your Spouse Is Detained by ICE: Locator Steps

(UNITED STATES) Families across the country are again facing a quiet but harsh reality of the immigration system: a sudden call that a husband or wife has been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and no clear information on where they are being held or what will happen next. In those first tense hours, the main lifeline is the ICE Online Detainee Locator, a web tool that has become the starting point for spouses trying to find their loved ones in federal custody.

How the ICE Online Detainee Locator works

The online system, run by ICE, lets relatives and lawyers search for a detainee either by A-Number or by personal details such as full legal name, country of birth, and date of birth. The A-Number, also called an Alien Registration Number, is a unique nine-digit identifier given to many immigrants over the course of their cases.

• The A-Number appears on certain immigration documents, including past work permits, some court papers, and older green card applications.
• When that number is available, advocates say it is usually the fastest way to locate a detainee and confirm ICE custody.

For many families, however, the A-Number is not written down or easily found when an arrest happens at home, at work, or during a traffic stop. In those situations, the locator can still be used, but it depends on extremely accurate spelling of the person’s full legal name and exact birth details. Even small mistakes—such as a misspelled surname, missing middle names, or an incorrect birth date—can cause the system to show no results. That leaves relatives staring at an empty screen, unsure whether their spouse is in transit, still being processed, or held somewhere that has not yet updated its records.

When the locator confirms a match

When the locator does confirm a match, it lists the detention facility where the person is being held. That is the moment anxiety often turns into frantic planning: how to call, visit, and find legal help before key deadlines pass.

Families are urged to:

• Call the detention center directly.
• Speak with the local ICE field office tied to that facility to check visitation procedures, phone rules, and how to send money for calls.

Policies differ between centers. Some sites have strict rules on:

• Identification documents
• Dress codes
• Visit length
• Whether children can enter

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, relatives who reach a facility quickly are often better positioned to support the detained spouse’s legal case because they can get early information on the process and any paperwork already in motion.

Calls to the local ICE field office can also help confirm that a person is in ICE custody, even when the online system is not yet updated or does not show a match. Officers there may be able to say whether a person has been booked into a specific detention center or if they are still at a local holding site.

What to do if the locator shows no results

If a spouse does not appear in the ICE Online Detainee Locator after several attempts with correct information, lawyers generally suggest:

1. Contact the ICE field office for the area where the arrest took place.
2. Ask whether the person was transferred between facilities (including to centers in other states).
3. Check for delays in record updates or limited phone access during the first hours after arrest.

Delays in updating records and limited access to phones in the first hours often leave families waiting without clear answers about where their relative is or whether they are safe.

The legal process that follows detention

Behind the search for basic information is a fast-moving legal process. Once ICE arrests and detains someone, officers begin processing the person’s case, reviewing past immigration history and any previous entries into the country.

• The central document in that process is the Notice to Appear, the charging paper that officially starts removal (deportation) proceedings in immigration court.
• That notice, formally known as Form I-862, lays out the government’s claims about why the person should be removed from the United States.

Official details about Form I-862 are available on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website at https://www.uscis.gov/i-862.

The timing of when a detainee gets the Notice to Appear can vary, but it often arrives soon after ICE finishes initial processing. Once the notice is issued:

• The government places the case on an immigration court docket.
• A first hearing before a judge is scheduled.

That first appearance is a key moment: the judge confirms the person’s identity, explains the charges, and asks how they plan to respond. Even though the process can later drag on for months or years, the early days set the tone for how the case will move forward.

Release options: bond and parole

While all this unfolds, the detained spouse usually remains in ICE custody unless the government decides to release them on bond or parole.

• Bond: An amount of money paid to secure a person’s release while their immigration case continues. If the person attends all hearings and follows court orders, the bond can be returned at the end of the process.
• Parole: A form of conditional release that does not always involve payment. It is often used for people with serious medical needs or other special situations.

Decisions on bond or parole depend on factors such as:

• The person’s record
• Community ties
• Any past immigration problems

Legal representation and common forms of relief

Throughout detention, the spouse has the right to hire a lawyer, though the government does not pay for that legal help. Finding an attorney quickly is often as important as locating the detention center.

Common forms of relief include:

• Asylum — for people afraid of persecution in their home country
• Cancellation of removal — for certain long-term residents with strong family ties
• Adjustment of status — for those who may qualify for a green card through a family member or employer

Each option has strict rules, deadlines, and evidence requirements.

Legal advocates stress that spouses on the outside can play a vital role by gathering supporting documents, including:

• Birth certificates
• Marriage records
• Proof of long-term residence in the U.S.

These materials can help lawyers build a defense or request bond, and support claims that a detainee has deep community ties and is not a flight risk.

Practical details and staying informed

Family members must also keep up with changing visitation procedures at detention centers. Some locations may alter schedules, limit in-person visits, or switch to video-only visits during health emergencies or security incidents.

The U.S. government publishes basic information about detention centers and field office contact details on official websites, including https://www.ice.gov/detention-facilities, but practical details often come from:

• Talking directly with facility staff
• Speaking with other families who have experience with the same center

Simple questions that matter include:

• Which days lawyers are allowed to visit?
• How long it takes for mail to reach a detainee?
• Whether personal clothing can be dropped off?

Answers to these questions can have a big impact on a detained person’s daily life.

Key takeaway: The first hours and days after an arrest involve a tight sequence of steps—locating the detainee through the ICE Online Detainee Locator, confirming where they are being held, learning visitation procedures, and checking whether a Notice to Appear (Form I-862) has been issued. Each step carries emotional weight for spouses managing jobs, childcare, and household bills while trying to keep a distant legal case on track.

For many families, the hope is that quick action, clear information, and strong legal help will lead to release on bond or a favorable outcome before the judge. Even when outcomes are uncertain, knowing where a spouse is being held, when they can be visited, and what stage their case has reached can bring some measure of order to an otherwise chaotic and frightening moment.

In that sense, a nine-digit A-Number, an online search page, and a single sheet of paper labeled Form I-862 become the thin line tying families together while the federal immigration system decides their future.