Emergency · ICE detention
If ICE just detained someone you love, start here.
Call first. We help families find out where the person is held, which office or court controls the case, and what can be done about custody and the case itself, in English or Spanish, across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.
A locator search that finds nothing does not mean the person is free. Records lag behind arrests and transfers, and a person held in a county jail on an ICE detainer will not appear.
Do this right now
Four things that protect them in the first hours.
Do not wait until you know everything. Start with these, then call.
Pause before signing.
The detained person should ask for an interpreter and a chance to speak with a lawyer before signing anything they do not fully understand, especially a stipulated removal order or a voluntary departure form.
Get the basics.
Full name, date and country of birth, and the A-number if you have it. The 8- or 9-digit A-number appears on a work permit, a green card, and most immigration notices. Partial information still helps.
Note where and when.
Where they were taken, whether a home, a workplace, a check-in, an airport, or a county jail, and the date and time. Write it down while it is fresh.
Call us.
(484) 763-4984. Tell us what you know. We confirm custody, explain the options, and tell you what to gather.
When you call, you can say: “My relative was detained by ICE. Their name is ___, born ___, and their A-number is ___ if we know it. They were taken from ___ on ___. We need help finding them and understanding the next steps.”
When every hour counts
Some facts make speed matter even more.
If any of these apply, call as soon as you can and say so at the start of the call.
Do not let the detained person sign anything before a lawyer reviews it, especially a stipulated removal order or a voluntary departure form, and do not pay anyone who calls offering to arrange a release. ICE does not collect bonds over the phone.
- A prior removal order or a missed court date. An old order changes the whole analysis, and removal can move quickly.
- Any arrest or criminal charge, even old or dismissed. Some offenses mean detention without bond, so the certified outcome of each case matters from the start.
- An arrest at a check-in, an airport, or on release from a jail. These cases can move fast, including transfers to facilities far from home.
- Pressure to sign voluntary departure or removal papers. Signing can end the case before a judge ever hears it.
Find the person
Start with the ICE Online Detainee Locator.
The locator is free and public. It is most precise with the A-number, and it can lag behind arrests and transfers, so search again later if nothing appears. Our locator guide walks through each screen.
- 01
Search by A-number and country of birth
Enter the A-number and choose the country of birth. This is the most precise search.
- 02
Or by name, country, and date of birth
Use the exact first and last name as written on official documents, the country of birth, and the date of birth. If nothing appears, try other spellings or leave out a middle name.
- 03
Write down what the record shows
If a record appears, note the facility name and any numbers or dates it shows, and share all of it with us.
- 04
If nothing appears, keep checking
No result does not mean the person is free. They may still be in processing, held in a county jail on an ICE detainer, or listed under a different spelling. Call us; we can check through other channels.
- 05
Look for a court date
With the A-number, EOIR's case information portal shows whether an immigration court hearing is scheduled and where.
What to gather
Share what you know. Do not wait for everything.
Even partial details help. Send what you have, and we will tell you what else matters for this case.
Identity and history
- Full name, date and country of birth, and any other names or spellings used.
- The A-number and any old receipt notices or case numbers.
- Where and when they were detained: city, county, jail, check-in, or airport.
- Immigration history: visas, asylum, a pending petition, prior court cases, any removal order.
- Every arrest or charge, with dates and outcomes if you have them.
Ties, papers, and a sponsor
- Who depends on them: children, a spouse, parents, and anyone with medical needs.
- Proof of a life here: a lease, tax returns, pay stubs, an employer letter, school records.
- Papers ICE issued, if any reached the family, such as a Notice to Appear or a custody notice.
- A possible sponsor: ideally a U.S. citizen or permanent resident with a stable address.
- The best number to reach you and when you can talk today.
For a recent detention, call first. Email works better for documents and follow-up: info@lehighvalleyimmigrationlawyers.com. Keep the originals.
After you call
A clear plan in a hard moment.
We work in order: confirm who holds the person and where, review the record for risks, then choose the path.
Find the person and the office in control
We confirm the facility, the ICE office, and whether an immigration court case exists, using the A-number when you have it.
How to searchSpot the risks early
Prior orders, how the person entered, and any criminal history decide which options exist, so we review them before advising.
Removal defenseBond, release, or the court case
Where the law allows, we ask a judge to review custody and prepare the bond file, and we defend the removal case itself.
Immigration bond hearingsWe regularly serve Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. For detention in other states, we can often help with strategy or a referral.
Private two-minute guide
Where should the first call start?
Answer three general questions. The guide suggests a starting point; it does not give legal advice, predict an outcome, or send your answers to the firm.
Official starting points
Use the official tools, and check them again.
Official records lag behind arrests and transfers. Use these sources, and confirm what they show with a lawyer before acting on it.
Common questions
Questions families ask in the first hours.
General answers help families act quickly. They cannot tell you what will happen in a particular case.
How do I find out where ICE is holding someone?
Search the ICE Online Detainee Locator by A-number and country of birth, or by exact name, country, and date of birth. Records lag behind arrests and transfers, and a person held in a county jail on an ICE detainer will not appear, so search again later and call us with what you have.
Should the detained person sign anything?
Not before a lawyer reviews it. A stipulated removal order or a voluntary departure form can end the case before a judge hears it. The person can ask for an interpreter and for a chance to speak with a lawyer first.
Can they get out on bond?
It depends on the detention authority, which turns on how the person entered, their record, and where they are held. A person held under INA § 236(a) can ask an immigration judge to review custody, and the judge may set, lower, or raise a bond. Our bond page explains the rules and what the family can gather now.
Someone called offering to get my relative released for a fee. Is that real?
Be very careful. ICE does not collect bonds over the phone, and no legitimate bond is paid to someone who calls asking for money. Bonds are generally posted online through ICE's CeBONDS system. Call us before paying anyone.
What if the locator shows nothing?
No result does not mean the person is free. They may still be in processing, held in a county jail, or listed under a different spelling. Try other spellings, search again later, and call us; we can check through other channels.
Can you help if the person is held outside Pennsylvania?
We regularly serve Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. For detention in other states, we can often help with strategy or a referral. Tell us where the person is held when you call.
What will it cost?
Fees depend on what the case needs. We quote flat fees after reviewing the situation, and payment plans are available. Custody, bond, and the removal case may be quoted separately.
Can we talk in Spanish?
Yes. Calls, meetings, and documents are available in English and Spanish.
Emergency help at a glance
- Phone
- (484) 763-4984, call or text.
- Languages
- English and Spanish.
- Who we help
- Families of people detained by ICE, and people facing detention, in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.
- Have ready
- Full name, date and country of birth, the A-number if known, and where and when the person was detained.
- Official locator
- ICE Online Detainee Locator, searchable by A-number or by name and country of birth.
- Life-threatening emergency
- Call 911.
- Office
- 609 W. Hamilton Street, No. 102, Allentown, PA 18101 · (484) 763-4984
Information reviewed against official sources on October 25, 2026. General information, not legal advice; reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Detention rules change, so confirm the current rule before acting.
Reviewed and updated
Talk to us now
Call with whatever you know. Custody is the first thing we review.
Tell us what happened, where, and when. For a recent detention, call instead of emailing; email works better for documents and follow-up.
English and Spanish · Allentown · Pennsylvania · New Jersey · New York · Representation where permitted