When someone you love is detained by ICE

This guide is general information, not legal advice. DNLH is not a law office, a clinic or a crisis line, and we cannot represent anyone. Only a lawyer or a DOJ accredited representative may give immigration legal advice. Free help is listed in every section.

We know this is one of the worst days a family can have. You do not have to solve everything today. Do the next right thing, then the one after that. Many families have walked this road and found their footing. You can too.

On this page

• What should we do in the first 24 hours?
• How do we find where they are held?
• Will they be moved, and how do we keep track?
• How do we get a lawyer, and what will the lawyer need?
• Can they get out on bond?
• How does a bond hearing work, and how can family help?
• How do we pay a bond and get the money back?
• Are there other ways out besides bond?
• How do we stay in touch and send money?
• How do we protect the children?
• How do we keep money coming in and the bills paid?
• What if they are sick or treated badly inside?
• What happens when they come home, or if they are deported?
• What changed in 2025 and 2026?
• Questions people ask

What should we do in the first 24 hours?

Call rapid response, then a lawyer, then find where they are. Those three calls set everything else in motion. You can make all three today, even if you have no papers yourself.

Step by step:

1. Make sure everyone at home is safe. If children were with the person, find out where they are now. Call the school or child care and tell them who will pick the children up. See How do we protect the children?
2. Call your county's rapid response line. Santa Clara County: (408) 290-1144. San Mateo County: (203) 666-4472. Both are open 24 hours. In San Mateo County, the line connects families to emergency attorneys once a detention is confirmed. Rapid response teams help connect detained people to lawyers.
3. Call a free legal group the same day. In East Palo Alto, Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA) helps low income residents of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties with deportation defense, including people in detention: 650-326-6440. More are in How do we get a lawyer?
4. Search the ICE locator at locator.ice.gov. A new arrest may take up to 8 hours to show up. If nothing comes up, search again later and the next morning.
5. Write everything down. Who you called, when, and what they said. Keep one notebook or use the call sheet.

What to gather now:

• Their full legal name, with every last name and spelling they use
• Date of birth and country of birth
• Their A number (Alien Registration Number), if they have one. It has 8 or 9 digits. Look on a Notice to Appear, a work permit, a green card or a USCIS letter.
• Any immigration papers, court papers or criminal court papers
• Proof of how long they have lived in the United States, and proof of family here

What your loved one should know, if you can get a message to them: they have the right to stay silent and to talk to a lawyer before signing anything. If they were arrested without a warrant and put into an immigration court case, federal rules say they must be told why they were arrested, that they may have a lawyer at no cost to the government, and that what they say can be used against them. They must also get a list of free legal services. Federal rules say ICE generally decides within 48 hours whether to keep them in custody or release them.

Mistakes to avoid:

• Do not pay anyone who promises a fast release. No one can buy that. A notario is not a lawyer in the United States. See Warning signs of an immigration scam.
• Do not post their A number or photo online.
• Do not go to an ICE office or detention center in person without talking to a lawyer first if you have no papers yourself. See the notice below.

For a shorter version of this section, see What to do if ICE detains someone in your family

How do we find where they are held?

Use the ICE locator first, then call the center to confirm. The A number search is the most reliable. A name search works too, but it must match exactly.

Step by step:

1. Go to locator.ice.gov. Choose A number and country of birth, or name and country of birth.
2. If you search by name, type it exactly as it appears on their official records. Try every spelling, one last name, then both last names.
3. Read the result:
   • "In custody" means they are in an ICE center. The result shows the center and its contact.
   • "Not in custody" means ICE released them in the last 60 days. They may have been released, or they may have left or been removed from the United States.
4. Call the center to confirm. Say: "I am calling to confirm that [full name], A number [number], born [date], from [country], is held there. Can I leave an urgent message?"

If you cannot find them:

• The locator can be up to 8 hours behind. Search again.
• Some people are left out for safety or other agency reasons.
• Children under 18 never appear in the locator. See How do we protect the children?
• Call the ICE San Francisco Field Office at (415) 365-8800. If they may be at Golden State Annex, you can also email SanFrancisco.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov, the address ICE lists on that center's page for case information requests. Have their name, birth date, country of birth and A number ready.
• Ask your legal group or the rapid response line to search for you.

Where people from the Bay Area are often held. The California Attorney General's 2026 report lists these centers under the San Francisco Field Office:

People can also be sent to other parts of California or to other states. Trust the locator over this table.

Find their court date. Once they have a case in immigration court, call 1-800-898-7180, open 24 hours in English and Spanish. Enter the 9 digit A number (if it has 8 digits, put a 0 in front). You can also check EOIR Automated Case Information online with the A number and their nationality. Not every case shows up online.

The San Francisco Immigration Court closed on September 4, 2026. Its cases moved to the Concord Immigration Court, 1855 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 850, Concord, CA 94520, phone 925-680-9015, open to the public 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Sansome Street building in San Francisco is still used as a hearing location run by Concord, and some hearings are by video. If an old notice says San Francisco, check the court line for the current place.

Full steps are on How to find a family member detained by ICE

Will they be moved, and how do we keep track?

Yes, they may be moved, sometimes more than once and sometimes out of state. Check the locator before every visit, every deposit and every important call.

What ICE's own rules say about transfers. ICE's 2011 detention standards (revised December 2016) say the following. ICE's facility pages do not say which standards each center uses, so ask the lawyer whether these apply where your loved one is held.

• Right before a transfer, the person must be told about it in a language they understand, and given the new center's name, address and phone number in writing.
• After they arrive, they must be offered one free domestic phone call of three minutes.
• Their lawyer of record must be told no later than 24 hours after the transfer.
• Their money and small valuables are returned to them before they leave.

What this means for you:

• Get a lawyer on record fast. A lawyer who has filed with ICE gets the transfer notice. Family members do not.
• Keep your phone on and your account funded, so the free call after a transfer reaches you. See How do we stay in touch and send money?
• Search the locator every day for the first week.
• Do not mail money or packages until you have confirmed they are still at that center.

If they were moved far away, their court case may also move. Keep calling 1-800-898-7180 for the next hearing date and place.

How do we get a lawyer, and what will the lawyer need?

Call more than one free legal group on the same day, and tell each one the person is detained. Detained cases move fast. You have the right to a lawyer in immigration court, but the government does not pay for one. Free and low cost help exists, and openings change week to week.

Free and low cost groups that take detained or court cases (contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings; being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service):

• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA): 650-326-6440. Walk ins Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1861 Bay Road, East Palo Alto. Low income residents of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, including people in detention.
• Pangea Legal Services: (415) 254-0475. Deportation defense.
• Catholic Charities San Francisco: (650) 285-6451. Immigration court cases, including bond hearings.
• SIREN: removal cases, (559) 840-0005.
• Step Forward Foundation: removal cases, (408) 915-8698.
• Asian Law Alliance: (408) 287-9710.
• Santa Clara County's detention counsel list names six groups: Amigos de Guadalupe, CLSEPA, Pangea, the Santa Clara University Community Law Center, Step Forward and SIREN. See the county list.
• The Department of Justice pro bono list shows free providers by immigration court. It is updated every quarter. See the list.

The full directory is on Free or low cost immigration legal help in the Bay Area.

What to bring to the first call or meeting:

• Full name, date and country of birth, A number
• Where they are held and when they were taken
• Every paper ICE gave them, and any Notice to Appear
• Any past immigration filings: visa, DACA, TPS, asylum, family petition
• Any criminal court papers, even old or dismissed cases
• Proof of years in the United States: leases, pay stubs, tax returns, school and medical records
• Proof of family here, especially U.S. citizen or green card holder spouses and children
• A list of anyone who could be a sponsor if they are released

See What to bring to your first meeting with an immigration lawyer and Papers that show how long you have lived here.

Questions to ask the lawyer:

• Can they ask for a bond hearing? If not, is there another way to ask for release?
• Is there any relief they could apply for, like asylum or cancellation of removal?
• What is the next court date, and is it in person or by video?
• What should the family gather this week?
• Should anyone in the family avoid visiting or calling because of their own status?

Mistakes to avoid: Never pay for immigration help with a gift card, a money transfer or a payment app. Before you pay anyone, check that they are allowed to help. If you are told the court will appoint a lawyer for free, read Will the court give me a free lawyer? first.

Can they get out on bond?

Maybe. Ask a lawyer about a bond hearing right away. Bond is money paid so a person can go home while their case goes on. Whether a person can get bond has changed several times since 2025, and the U.S. Supreme Court is now looking at it.

The basics in the law:

• For most people arrested inside the country, the law (8 U.S.C. 1226) allows release on a bond of at least $1,500, or on conditional parole.
• ICE can set a bond. An immigration judge can also set or change it at a bond hearing.
• The judge looks at whether the person is a danger to people or property, whether they are likely to come to future court dates, and whether they are a national security threat.

Who usually cannot get bond:

• People who fall under mandatory detention because of certain criminal convictions.
• Since January 29, 2025, under the Laken Riley Act, some people who are here without being admitted, used fraud or false claims, or lack valid entry papers, and who are charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or admit burglary, theft, larceny, shoplifting, assault of a law enforcement officer, or a crime that caused death or serious injury. This can apply even without a conviction.
• Some people stopped as they arrive at the border. An immigration judge cannot hold a bond hearing for certain "arriving" noncitizens.

The big fight over bond, in plain words:

• July 2025: ICE issued guidance treating people who entered without inspection as not eligible for bond.
• September 5, 2025: the Board of Immigration Appeals agreed, in Matter of Yajure Hurtado. It said immigration judges cannot give bond to people present in the United States without having been admitted.
• July 30, 2026: the federal appeals court that covers California (the Ninth Circuit) ruled in Rodriguez Vazquez v. Bostock that people who were never admitted and are arrested inside the country fall under the law that allows bond hearings. Most other federal appeals courts have ruled the same way. Two have sided with the government.
• October 1, 2026: the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to decide this question in Rhoney v. Barbosa da Cunha (No. 26-104). As of October 21, 2026, the docket shows no argument date, and the government has asked for more time to file its brief. We do not know yet when the Court will rule.

What this means for your family: it depends on how your loved one entered, their record, and where they are held. Some lawyers have gone to federal court with a habeas petition to ask that a person be given a bond hearing. Do not guess. Ask a lawyer this week, and ask again if the law changes.

Mistakes to avoid:

• Do not assume "no bond" is final. Ask a lawyer.
• Do not let a bond company or anyone else pressure you into a contract you do not understand.
• Do not let your loved one sign voluntary departure or any removal papers without talking to a lawyer.

How does a bond hearing work, and how can family help?

A bond hearing is a short, separate hearing before an immigration judge about release only. The family can help a lot by gathering proof that your loved one will come to court and is not a danger.

How it is requested: the person or their lawyer asks the immigration judge in writing, out loud in court, or by phone if the judge allows it. The request gives the full name, A number, the bond amount ICE set (if any) and where they are held. There is no fee to ask. If the judge says no, a new request must be in writing and show that things have changed in a real way since the last decision. Either side can appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals. Deadlines are short, so ask the lawyer the same day.

What happens at the hearing: the judge hears from the person or their lawyer and from ICE's lawyer. Bond hearings are kept separate from the deportation case, and usually not recorded. Papers already filed in the deportation case must be filed again for bond.

How family can help. A national legal group's bond checklist for lawyers (National Immigrant Justice Center, September 2026) lists papers like these. Ask your lawyer which ones they want:

• Proof of family here: birth certificates of U.S. citizen children, marriage certificate, a spouse's green card or passport copy
• Proof of a home to go to: a lease or utility bill at the address where they will live
• A sponsor letter: from the person who will house and support them, with proof of the sponsor's job and status
• Letters of support from family, employers, pastors, schools and community groups. Good letters say how the writer knows the person, give real examples of how they help others, and say how the writer will support them after release.
• Proof of work and taxes: an employer letter, pay stubs, tax returns
• Proof of long residence and community ties
• Medical records if they have a health condition
• Family photos

Before someone without papers writes a letter or shares their ID, ask the lawyer. Letters often go with the writer's ID.

What happens next: the judge may set a bond, lower or raise one ICE set, or deny bond. If bond is set, see the next section.

How do we pay a bond and get the money back?

A U.S. citizen or green card holder pays the full amount to ICE, and gets it back later if every condition is kept. If no one in your family can post it, a nonprofit, a law firm or a bond fund may help.

Who can post a bond. ICE's bonds page says U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, law firms and nonprofit groups can post bonds through its online system, CeBONDS. Other noncitizens can post only certain bonds for themselves. The person posting is called the obligor, and must show ID from ICE's approved list, such as a U.S. passport, birth certificate or green card.

How to pay. ICE says bonds are paid by bank transfer (Fedwire or ACH) through CeBONDS. ICE may work with people who want to pay in person at an ICE office, case by case. Bond posting hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Friday, in the time zone where the person is held. The obligor must pay the full amount at the time of posting. Families without a bank account can ask a community group for help.

The bond agreement. The contract is ICE Form I-352. Read it. The obligor promises to bring the person to ICE whenever ICE sends a notice to appear for a date and time.

Money for the bond:

• San Mateo County: Faith in Action Bay Area's rapid response page says donations to its mutual aid fund go to legal defense or bond support, listed at $15,000 to $30,000 per case, along with rent and basic needs help. The page does not say whether money is available now or how to ask for it. Call the rapid response line, (203) 666-4472, and ask.
• Your legal group may know bond funds. Ask.
• Never pay someone who asks for a fee to "process" a bond with a gift card or payment app.

Getting the money back:

• The bond stays in place until ICE sends Form I-391, Notice Immigration Bond Cancelled. A nonprofit guide (CLINIC) says this usually comes after the case ends, and that you can contact the ICE office to start the process.
• Keep every paper from the day you post the bond, including your receipt. A nonprofit guide (CLINIC) says the receipt is ICE Form I-305, and that a lost receipt can be replaced with a notarized form.
• Keep your address current with ICE. Use ICE Form I-333, Obligor Change of Address, and give it to the ICE office where you posted the bond, in person or by mail. If ICE has an old address, you may miss the cancellation notice.
• If the person misses a check in or court date, ICE can declare the bond breached on Form I-323 and keep the money. ICE says it still refunds the interest that built up.

Mistakes to avoid: posting a bond and then moving without telling ICE; throwing away the receipt; letting the person miss a notice to appear.

Are there other ways out besides bond?

Yes. ICE can release a person on its own, and a federal court can order a hearing or release. None of these is promised. A lawyer decides which to try.

• ICE release with conditions. The law lets ICE release some people on conditional parole instead of bond. People released by ICE may have check ins, a phone app or an ankle monitor. ICE's Alternatives to Detention program (ISAP) is for adults 18 and older released from custody who are in removal proceedings or have a final order. How strict the conditions are depends on things like family ties, being a caregiver, health and history, and can change over time.
• Telling ICE they are a parent. This is not a release program, but it matters. ICE's directive on detained parents and legal guardians of minor children (Directive 11064.4, issued July 2, 2025) says ICE helps detained parents take part in family court, child welfare and guardianship cases and follows visitation procedures. Call 1-888-351-4024 and say it is a "Parental Interests Inquiry."
• A habeas petition. Federal law lets a federal district court hear a petition from a person held "in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States." Many lawyers have used these petitions since 2025 to ask for bond hearings or release. This is a federal court case. It needs a lawyer.
• Community support. Letters, calls and visits from pastors, employers and neighbors can help a lawyer show who this person is. See How a church or community can support a neighbor arrested by ICE.

If a judge said no to bond, see If the judge denies bond: challenging detention in federal court.

How do we stay in touch and send money?

They call you. You cannot call them. Set up a phone account and put money on their account so they can call and buy basics. Visits are allowed, with rules.

Phone calls and messages (checked October 18, 2026):

1. People in detention cannot get incoming calls. Golden State Annex and Mesa Verde both use tablets from GettingOut, run by ViaPath.
2. To get calls, create and fund an AdvancePay account with ConnectNetwork. Help line: 1-866-516-0115.
3. To send messages and photos, make an account at gettingout.com. Ask the center if video visits are offered.
4. For an emergency, call the center with their full name and A number and leave your name and callback number. Golden State Annex: (661) 792-2731. Mesa Verde: (661) 859-1028, extension 101. ICE's standards say the center must pass on phone messages to the person promptly.
5. Calls to free legal providers on ICE's list and to consulates are free for the person under ICE's standards. Calls about legal matters may not be listened to without a court order.

Money on their account:

• Golden State Annex: online or by phone through CorrectPay, correctpay.com or (855) 836-3364, or a money order with their full name and A number mailed to 611 Frontage Road, McFarland, CA 93250.
• Mesa Verde: ICE's page says money orders or cashier's checks only, with full name and A number, or cash in person Monday to Friday. The same page also says money that arrives by mail is returned. Call (661) 859-1028 before you mail anything.
• Never mail cash. Payment services charge fees.

Visits: bring valid government photo ID, arrive early, leave phones in the car, follow the dress code, and do not try to hand anything over. Visit days depend on the person's housing unit. Pastors can ask about clergy visits. Full schedules are on Visit, call or send money to someone in ICE detention.

Their consulate. The U.S. State Department says foreign nationals who are arrested or detained must be told they can have their consulate notified, and that for 57 countries the consulate must be told no matter what. Consular officers may contact their citizens, check on their welfare, contact family and help arrange legal help and medical care. Ask your loved one or their lawyer whether to contact the consulate. If they fear harm in their home country, talk to the lawyer first.

How do we protect the children?

Get the children to a trusted adult, tell the school who that adult is, and have the caregiver sign California's caregiver form. No court is needed for that first step, and the parent does not have to sign it.

Today:

1. Get the children to the caregiver the family chose. If there was no plan, a relative or close friend can step in now.
2. Call the school and child care. Under AB 495, since January 1, 2026, California schools, licensed child care and state preschools must first follow a parent's emergency contact instructions when a parent is not available. Schools should call child protective services only if care cannot be arranged that way.
3. Keep the routine as normal as you can: school, meals, bedtime, church, activities.

This week:

• Caregiver's Authorization Affidavit. Once the children live with the caregiver, the caregiver fills out and signs this free California form. It lets them enroll the children in school and agree to school related medical care. A relative can also agree to other medical care. It is not filed in court and does not need a notary. Parents do not need to sign it and can cancel it at any time. It gives no legal custody. English and Spanish, revised January 1, 2026.
• Tell ICE the person is a parent. Call 1-888-351-4024, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern, and say "Parental Interests Inquiry." ICE's directive says it helps detained parents take part in family court, child welfare and guardianship cases.
• Think about guardianship if the parent may be gone a long time. It costs $225 to start a guardianship of the person case, and you can ask for a fee waiver based on the child's income. Since January 1, 2026, California law also allows a joint guardianship, where the parent and the person they choose share guardianship while the parent is detained. The court forms for it were not adopted yet on October 21, 2026; proposed forms are set for a Judicial Council vote on October 24, 2026. Ask your court's self help center whether the forms are out before you file. Talk with a family law helper first, and see Who can care for my children if I am detained. See Make a family preparedness plan.

Situations families face:

• A non relative is caring for the children. They can use the caregiver form for school and school related care. If they care for the child for a long time, the county may require approval. Ask your county social services office.
• The child was detained too, or came alone. Children under 18 are not in the ICE locator. Call the Office of Refugee Resettlement National Call Center at 1-800-203-7001 or email information@ORRNCC.com. See How children in immigration custody are held and released to family.
• The children are already in foster care. Get a lawyer involved as early as you can. ICE's directive says it helps detained parents take part in child welfare cases. See Keeping your rights as a parent if you are detained or deported.

Helping children cope: tell them the truth in a few words, that the adult loves them, and who is caring for them. Let them ask questions. See Helping children cope when a parent is detained or deported and When your teen is struggling.

Mistakes to avoid: do not sign the caregiver form if any statement on it is not true; that is a crime. Do not take the children out of school out of fear.

How do we keep money coming in and the bills paid?

Ask for help with rent and food now, collect pay that is owed, and let one trusted adult handle the bills. Families lose income fast when the earner is detained. Help exists.

Emergency help:

• San Mateo County: the rapid response line, (203) 666-4472. Faith in Action Bay Area's mutual aid fund lists up to 4 months of rent and up to $1,500 for basic needs for families of detained people. Its page does not say whether money is available now, so ask.
• Santa Clara County: Standing Firm for Families (FIRST 5 and Catholic Charities) helps families with a child from pregnancy to age 5 who had an immigration hardship after January 1, 2025. A helper refers the family by email to standingstrong@ccscc.org. On October 21, 2026, FIRST 5's page said the support is continuing and listed no deadline. For questions, call FIRST 5 at (408) 260-3700.
• Anywhere in the U.S.: Mission Asset Fund's ALMA Program for immigration emergencies. Pre-apply at missionassetfund.org/alma-program. MAF says it may not be able to help every family right now.
• Food: parents can apply for CalFresh for U.S. citizen children whatever the parents' status. See Food help.
• 211 for local help with food, rent and bills. See 211.

Details are on Emergency money help when a family member is detained.

Their job and pay:

• Wages already earned are still owed. In California, a worker who is fired must be paid all final wages, including earned vacation, right away. A worker who quits without notice must be paid within 72 hours. Ask the employer for the final check and pay stubs. See Your final paycheck.
• Since January 1, 2026, under SB 294, if a worker is arrested or detained at work, or during work hours somewhere else and the employer knows, the employer must tell the emergency contact the worker named. Employers had to let workers name one by March 30, 2026.

The bills, the bank and the car:

• Pick one trusted adult to handle the bills, and keep receipts.
• A power of attorney lets your loved one choose someone to act for them on money matters. In California it must be dated, signed, and either notarized or signed by two qualified witnesses. Ask the lawyer how papers can be signed from detention. A bank should not refuse a properly made statutory form only because it is not the bank's own form (Probate Code 4406), but ask the bank ahead of time.
• The car: DMV form REG 260 lets the owner name someone to sign papers to transfer the car. Signatures must be in ink.
• Taxes: IRS Form 2848 lets a close family member speak for them with the IRS. Form 8821 lets someone see their tax records.

See Make a family money plan

Mistakes to avoid: do not give your bank password or PIN to anyone who offers help. Be very careful with anyone who charges a fee to apply for help.

What if they are sick or treated badly inside?

Call the center, call their lawyer, and report it to ICE's Detention Reporting and Information Line. Write down dates, names and what happened.

ICE's Detention Reporting and Information Line, 1-888-351-4024, takes calls from the public, family members and lawyers. ICE says you can use it to:

• Ask general questions about detention, or basic case information
• Report sexual or physical assault or abuse in detention
• Report that someone in detention is a victim of trafficking or another crime
• Report that a detained person was separated from a minor child or other dependent
• Report a serious mental health condition. If it may affect their court case, the immigration judge should also be told.
• Report serious or unresolved problems in detention

Spanish speaking operators and other language help are available. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern, except holidays (ICE, checked October 21, 2026).

To file a formal complaint, ICE's Golden State Annex page lists two offices: ICE's Office of Professional Responsibility for staff misconduct, ICEOPRIntake@ice.dhs.gov, and the DHS Office of Inspector General hotline, DHSOIGHOTLINE@DHS.GOV. Ask the lawyer first if your loved one fears retaliation or has a pending case.

Also:

• Tell their lawyer right away. A health problem can matter for release.
• Ask the consulate to check on them, if your loved one agrees.
• Medical records help at a bond hearing. Ask the lawyer how to request them.

If someone is in danger right now, call 911. If you or someone you love is thinking about suicide, call or text 988. See Mental health care without fear for support for you, too.

What happens when they come home, or if they are deported?

Release is a new beginning with strict rules. Follow every one. Missing a check in or court date can lead to detention again and can cost the bond.

When they are released:

1. Ask the lawyer or the center when and where the release will happen. Keep your phone on. At Golden State Annex, clothes for release need approval from an ICE officer, so call the center before you send any.
2. Read every paper they are given. Make copies. Note every check in date and court date.
3. Update addresses. Use ICE's online change of address at portal.ice.gov/ocoa for ICE. That does not update the court. For the court, file Form EOIR-33 within 5 days of moving.
4. Keep calling 1-800-898-7180 for court dates.
5. Follow all check in rules. If they are on ISAP, an ISAP case manager works for a contractor, not ICE, and only ICE can remove a GPS monitor. Leaving the state without ICE's permission breaks the rules. See ICE check ins and ankle monitors.
6. Keep the bond papers safe. See How do we pay a bond and get the money back?
7. Rest and heal. Detention is hard on the body and mind. Reach out for care.

If they are deported:

• Stay in touch with their lawyer. Some cases can be reopened or appealed. See Reopen a deportation case.
• Keep the children's plan going. See How do we protect the children?
• Ask about the bond. Ask the lawyer or ICE how the bond will be cancelled, and keep your address current so you get the notice.
• Ask about money left on their detention account.
• Grief is real. See Living with grief when a loved one was deported.

What changed in 2025 and 2026?

These are the changes we confirmed on official or primary sources.

• January 29, 2025, the Laken Riley Act. Made detention without bond required for some people who are here without being admitted, used fraud or false claims, or lack valid entry papers, and are charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or admit theft, burglary, shoplifting, assault of a law enforcement officer, or crimes causing death or serious injury.
• January 2025, fast track removal expanded. Expedited removal can now apply anywhere in the country to some people not admitted or paroled who cannot show two years of continuous presence. On June 23, 2026, a federal appeals court lifted the order that had paused the expansion (Make the Road New York v. Mullin). The challengers asked the full court to rehear the case on July 27, 2026; no ruling has been reported as of October 21, 2026.
• July 2, 2025, ICE parents directive. ICE issued Directive 11064.4 on detained parents and legal guardians of minor children.
• July and September 2025, no bond for many. ICE guidance, then the Board of Immigration Appeals in Matter of Yajure Hurtado (September 5, 2025), said many people who entered without inspection cannot get bond from an immigration judge.
• August 27, 2025, California City opened as an ICE detention center run by CoreCivic. The state reported it did not allow contact visits. News reports say the federal government bought the building in July 2026.
• January 1, 2026, AB 495 and SB 294. Schools and child care must first follow a parent's emergency contact instructions, and the caregiver form covers more relatives. Employers must tell a worker's emergency contact about an arrest or detention at work.
• April 2026, Central Valley Annex in McFarland began holding ICE detainees.
• April 1, 2026, CalFresh narrowed for many noncitizens under H.R. 1. U.S. citizen children can still get it.
• July 30, 2026, the Ninth Circuit ruled for bond hearings in Rodriguez Vazquez v. Bostock.
• September 4, 2026, San Francisco Immigration Court closed. Its cases moved to Concord Immigration Court (EOIR).
• October 1, 2026, the Supreme Court agreed to decide whether people who entered without inspection and were arrested inside the country can be held without a bond hearing (Rhoney v. Barbosa da Cunha, No. 26-104).

Still open as of October 21, 2026: the Supreme Court has not set an argument date in No. 26-104, and the government asked on October 16, 2026 for more time to file its brief (docket). No public docket we could read showed whether the government asked the Ninth Circuit to rehear Rodriguez Vazquez. If what you are told does not match this page, ask a lawyer.

A note on federal websites. Some federal websites showed government shutdown notices in October 2026. ICE's locator and facility pages loaded when we checked on October 21, 2026. If a federal page will not load, call the number instead.

Questions people ask

Can I call ICE or the detention center if I do not have papers? You can call to ask where your loved one is. Keep the call about them and do not talk about your own status. If you are worried, ask a legal group or the rapid response line to call for you.

How long will they be held? No one can promise. It depends on bond, the court case and the law right now. Ask the lawyer for a realistic timeline.

Can they get out on bond? Maybe. It depends on how they entered, their record, and court rulings that are still changing. See Can they get out on bond?

How much is bond? At least $1,500 by law. ICE or the judge sets the amount for each person.

Who can pay the bond? A U.S. citizen, a green card holder, a law firm or a nonprofit. See How do we pay a bond?

Can they call me? Yes, once you set up a phone account. You cannot call in. See How do we stay in touch?

They were moved. Why did no one tell me? ICE tells the lawyer of record, not the family. The person should get a free call after they arrive. Check the locator daily.

Will the court give them a free lawyer? Usually not. They have the right to a lawyer, but not one paid by the government. Free groups exist. See Will the court give me a free lawyer?

Should they sign papers ICE gives them? Not before talking to a lawyer. Ask what each paper means before anyone signs.

Can they apply for a U visa or asylum from detention? Some people can. Ask the lawyer. See What is a U visa and could I qualify?

Who will take care of my kids? The adult you choose. The caregiver form lets them handle school and school related health care. See How do we protect the children?

What happens to our car, home and money? Name one trusted adult and use a power of attorney if you can. See Make a family money plan

How do I help a neighbor or church member who was arrested? Call rapid response, help the family find a lawyer, and offer rides, meals and child care. See How your church or community can support a neighbor arrested by ICE

What if my child is the one detained? Call the Office of Refugee Resettlement at 1-800-203-7001. See How children in immigration custody are held and released to family

Is someone who says they can "free" my relative for a fee real? Treat it as a warning sign. Only a lawyer or DOJ accredited representative may give immigration legal advice. See Warning signs of an immigration scam.

Printables

You are carrying something heavy, and you are still showing up. That is love in action. Lean on the people and groups listed here, take one step at a time, and keep hope close.