What To Do In The First 24 Hours After ICE Arrest

TL;DR:

The first 24 hours after an ICE arrest are critical. Family members should gather the detainee’s full legal name, date of birth, country of birth, and A-number as quickly as possible. The detained person should not sign anything without speaking to an attorney. Families can search for their loved one through the ICE Online Detainee Locator System or by calling the ERO information line at (866) 347-2423. Contacting an immigration lawyer immediately gives the detained person the strongest chance of securing a bond hearing and avoiding irreversible mistakes.

Someone you love was just taken by ICE. Your heart is racing, and you don’t know where they are or what you’re supposed to do. Take a breath. The next several hours matter enormously, and what your family does right now can shape whether your loved one gets a fair hearing or loses their chance at one.

The First Steps Every Family Member Should Take Right Now

Speed matters, but so does accuracy. Before you make calls or drive anywhere, gather every piece of information you can about the detained person.

You need their full legal name exactly as it appears on immigration documents. You need their date of birth, country of birth, and their Alien Registration Number (A-number). The A-number is an eight- or nine-digit number starting with “A” that appears on work permits, green cards, court notices, and USCIS correspondence. This number is the fastest way to locate someone in federal custody.

Check immigration paperwork at home: old work permits, notices to appear, court letters, or USCIS receipt notices. Write the A-number down and keep it with you.

Then call the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) information line at (866) 347-2423. This line operates around the clock. Provide the person’s full name, date of birth, and A-number. They can confirm whether the person is in ICE custody and which facility holds them.

Why The Detainee Locator May Not Show Results Yet

The ICE Online Detainee Locator System is a public tool that lets families and attorneys search for someone in ICE custody by A-number or by name, date of birth, and country of birth.

Here’s what catches families off guard: the locator doesn’t update instantly. It can take 24 to 72 hours after an arrest for the record to appear. During that window, the person may be in a local ICE field office, a county jail under contract, or in transit to a detention facility.

If the locator comes up empty, don’t panic. Try again every few hours and try different name spellings, including reversing first and last names, because data-entry errors are common. Between the phone line and the online tool, one will usually produce a result within the first day or two.

Documents To Collect While You Wait For Information

While you’re waiting to confirm the person’s location, gather documents that an immigration attorney will need.

Pull together any immigration paperwork: prior court notices, USCIS receipts, work permits, visa stamps, or a copy of their green card. If the person had an active case with USCIS or the immigration court, find the most recent notice showing case status.

Collect identification documents: a passport (even expired), a driver’s license, or a consular ID. If the person has U.S.-citizen children, gather the children’s birth certificates. Proof of family ties can matter enormously at a bond hearing.

If the person has pay stubs, tax returns, or proof of community ties like lease agreements or school records, set those aside too. An attorney evaluating bond eligibility will want evidence that the detainee has roots here and is not a flight risk. Keep everything in one folder so you can hand over a complete file when you meet with an immigrant detention lawyer.

What Your Loved One Should Not Sign Or Say in Custody

Communicate this to the detained person as soon as you reach them by phone. Inside detention, ICE officers may present paperwork that looks routine but carries life-altering consequences.

Do not sign a voluntary departure order. It means agreeing to leave the country and giving up the right to see an immigration judge. Once signed, it’s extremely difficult to undo.

Do not sign a stipulated removal order. This document concedes deportability and waives the right to a hearing. Detainees are sometimes told that signing will speed things up. That is not always true, and signing removes nearly every legal option.

Do not answer questions about immigration history without an attorney. The detained person has the right to remain silent. Anything said during processing can be used against them in removal proceedings. The safest response is: “I want to speak with my lawyer before answering questions.”

If the person fears returning to their home country, they should say so clearly and repeatedly to every officer. Expressing fear of persecution triggers asylum screening protections that can prevent fast-track deportation.

If your family member was just arrested by ICE and you need help understanding what’s happening, call our team now. We do immediate case triage for detained individuals in Austin and across Texas. Schedule a confidential evaluation today.

When To Call An Immigration Lawyer & What To Tell Them

The answer to “when” is now. Immigration detention cases move faster than almost any other area of law. A bond hearing can be scheduled within days, and decisions made in the first 48 hours can eliminate legal options permanently.

When you call, have the following ready: the detained person’s full name, A-number, date of birth, country of birth, the facility where they’re held (if known), and a brief summary of their immigration history. Tell the lawyer whether the person has prior removal orders, criminal convictions, or pending applications with USCIS. Be honest about everything, because surprises later can destroy a defense.

A lawyer can contact the detention facility directly, request a bond hearing, review the Notice to Appear for errors, and advise on relief options such as asylum, cancellation of removal, or adjustment of status.

Mistakes That Can Make An ICE Detention Case Worse

Beyond signing the wrong documents, families sometimes make well-intentioned errors that create problems.

Don’t post about the arrest on social media. ICE monitors public posts, and anything shared online can become evidence in removal proceedings.

Don’t contact ICE yourself to “explain the situation.” Without legal training, you risk providing information that hurts the case. Let the attorney handle all communication with the agency.

Don’t assume the person will be released quickly. Bond is not automatic in immigration cases. Some detainees face mandatory detention based on criminal history or prior removal orders.

Don’t wait to act because you think things will resolve on their own. Immigration detention moves toward removal, not toward release. Every day without legal representation is a day closer to a decision made without your loved one’s voice being heard.

The clock started the moment your family member was taken into custody. If you’re in Austin or anywhere in Texas and you need someone to step in now, Lincoln-Goldfinch Law handles urgent detained cases and can begin working on bond eligibility and defense strategy the same day you call. Schedule a confidential evaluation with our team today. Your loved one is counting on the next thing you do.