If you or someone you love gets picked up by ICE in Memphis, Tennessee, act fast and in the right order. The first 48–72 hours often decide where you’re held, whether you can get released, and how quickly you can connect with a lawyer.
This guide is for families like an Afghan refugee family who entered the U.S. through an asylum process and later faced detention—sometimes after being moved far away, such as to Dilley, Texas. If ICE transfers you out of Tennessee, your court case can move too. That affects your lawyer search, your support network, and your ability to gather proof.
Why ICE detention can happen even after entry was allowed
Being allowed into the U.S. after presenting for asylum does not guarantee you will never be detained later. In some cases, ICE arrests people who previously entered under specific policies or screening systems and then places them into detention while their immigration court case continues.
If this happens, your immediate priorities are:
- Find the exact location and A-Number.
- Avoid preventable removal.
- Get legal help in the court now handling the case.
Who this guide is for (and what to have ready)
This guide fits you if:
- You are in ICE custody, or your family member was detained by ICE in or near Memphis.
- You entered the U.S. after asking for asylum at the border and you have an I-94 record or other entry document.
- You already have (or had) an immigration court date and fear it will change after a transfer.
- You fear return because of persecution (for many Afghan families, this includes Taliban threats).
Before you start, gather:
- A-Number (Alien Registration Number), if you have one.
- Full legal name, date of birth, and country of birth exactly as used with immigration.
- Copies or photos of any paperwork you were given (even if incomplete).
Step-by-step: What to do after ICE detention (Memphis and beyond)
1) Confirm the detainee’s location and A-Number
You need the facility name and city before you can send documents, contact the right court, or hire the right lawyer.
- Ask ICE for the A-Number and the facility where the person is held.
- If you can’t get answers quickly, use the official detainee locator: ICE Online Detainee Locator System.
- Write down:
- Facility name
- Booking number (if given)
- A-Number
- Date and time of arrest
- Any scheduled court date you were told about
⚠️ Important: If ICE transfers you (for example, from Tennessee to Texas), your court location often changes. That affects where your lawyer must practice and where filings must go.
Set up a family support chain and a single point of contact to coordinate school pickup, document collection, deadlines, and calls; keep copies in a single folder accessible to all caregivers.
2) Protect your case from avoidable removal
Your goal is to prevent a fast removal while you’re trying to get counsel and prepare.
Do this immediately:
- Tell the facility you want to fight your immigration case and you want a lawyer.
- Do not sign documents you do not understand.
- If you already have an immigration court case, confirm you are not missing hearings because of transfer.
If you have a fear of return, state it clearly and consistently:
- “I am afraid to return to my country.”
- “I fear persecution.”
- “I want asylum.”
Clear statements matter. Keep them simple and repeatable.
3) Find a lawyer in the court where your case is now scheduled
If ICE moves you from Memphis to another state—like Dilley, Texas—your legal plan must adjust fast. A Memphis-based attorney might still help, but you often need someone who can appear in the new court or coordinate with local counsel.
What to ask a lawyer before you hire them:
- Have you handled detained immigration court cases?
- Can you take a case that is physically located at this detention center?
- Can you request a bond hearing or other release option if it applies?
- How quickly can you file a change of venue request if you have strong ties to Memphis?
If you’re calling for a detained family member, prepare a one-page “case snapshot” you can read over the phone, including:
- Full names of all family members in custody
- A-Numbers
- Current facility
- Any prior hearing date and the new hearing date (if it changed)
- The reason you fear return (short and factual)
4) Build a detention support plan for your family (especially children)
Detention creates immediate practical problems. If you have children, make a written plan covering:
- Who will care for children if parents remain detained
- Who has authority to pick children up from school in Memphis
- Who can gather documents from your home (passports, IDs, proof of address)
- Who will track deadlines and keep copies of every paper received
If your family is part of a faith community or local support network, keep communications organized through one point person to reduce confusion and missed calls.
5) Prepare for your next court date with the right evidence
Once you know the court location and date, start building your proof package. In asylum-related cases, strong cases are consistent, detailed, and supported by documents.
Focus on:
- Identity and family relationships
- Proof of entry and current case status
- Proof of persecution risk
- Proof of Memphis ties (helps with release requests and venue arguments)
Documents you should gather (checklist)
Identity and family proof
- Passports (current and expired)
- National ID cards (if available)
- Birth certificates for children
- Marriage certificate
- Any documents showing name variations (alternate spellings)
U.S. entry and immigration paperwork
- I-94 record (include electronic copy if that’s what you were issued)
- Any documents from CBP at entry
- Any paperwork connected to an asylum appointment system
- Notices from immigration court (hearing notice)
- Any ICE paperwork given at arrest or during intake
Proof you live in Memphis (and community ties)
- Lease, mortgage statement, or letter from landlord
- Utility bills
- School records for your children
- Letters from community members in Memphis (pastor, neighbors, school staff)
- Pay stubs or job letter if you were authorized to work
Proof of fear and harm
- Threat messages, letters, or reports (screenshots printed out)
- Medical records from any attacks or injuries
- Police reports (from abroad, if you have them)
- Witness statements from people who know the threats you faced
- Documents showing affiliation that created risk (employment, community role, public statements)
💡 Pro Tip: Keep your timeline of events on one page. Use dates, locations, and names. Consistency is a major credibility factor in asylum cases.
Fees and timeline: what to expect while detained
Detention cases move on the court’s schedule, not yours. What you can control is speed and organization: locating the person, retaining counsel, and submitting clean evidence.
Key realities:
- Transfers can happen quickly, including out-of-state moves that separate you from your Memphis support system.
- Court dates can change after a transfer. Confirm the new date and location and prepare for it.
- Legal costs vary widely in detained cases. Ask for a written fee agreement and a clear scope of work.
If your family entered with permission to be in the U.S. for a set period (for example, entry documentation that allowed work authorization for up to two years), keep copies available. Those documents help your lawyer explain your entry history and compliance.
Common mistakes that hurt detained families
Signing papers you don’t understand
If you sign something agreeing to removal or giving up rights, it can be hard to undo. Ask for an interpreter and insist on time to review with counsel.
Missing a hearing because of transfer confusion
If you miss court, the judge can order removal. Make confirming the court date a daily priority until you speak to a lawyer.
Telling different versions of your story
Trauma affects memory, but inconsistencies still hurt credibility. Use a written timeline and stick to it.
Failing to document Memphis ties
If you want release or a court location closer to home, your connection to Memphis matters. Collect school records, lease papers, and support letters early.
Relying on verbal promises
In detention, “someone told me” is not a plan. Get names, titles, and written paperwork whenever possible.
Next steps you can take today (Memphis-focused action plan)
- Run the detainee locator search and write down the A-Number, facility, and city: ICE Online Detainee Locator System.
- Start a Memphis document sweep: lease, school letters, utility bills, and any entry papers like an I-94. Put everything into a single folder.
- Call detained-case immigration lawyers and open with your one-page case snapshot. Prioritize lawyers who can work in the current court location if the person has been moved (including Texas locations like Dilley).
- Set up a family support chain so children have safe pickup, stable care, and someone tracking calls, mail, and deadlines.
- Draft your one-page persecution timeline with dates, places, and what happened. Keep it factual and consistent.
If you want more practical immigration guides written for real families under stress, you can also visit VisaVerge.com.
This guide provides essential steps for families facing ICE detention in Memphis, Tennessee. It emphasizes the importance of the first 72 hours, tracking A-Numbers, and understanding that transfers to places like Dilley, Texas, change legal requirements. It lists necessary documentation—from identity papers to proof of persecution—and warns against common mistakes like signing unknown documents or missing court dates due to facility transfers.
