How to locate someone in immigration detention amid Indiana ICE surge
As immigration enforcement operations rapidly increased throughout Indianapolis earlier this week , friends and family members of those who have been detained have wondered where their loved ones have been taken.
Unlike local law enforcement agencies, which have a usually have a public portal that's updated in real time, finding an individual in immigration custody can be difficult for families unfamiliar with the detainment process.
Here's how to track the location of a person who's been picked up by immigration enforcement agents.
How to locate a person in ICE custody
There are two ways to search for a person using ICE's online search tool : by using their alien registration number or their full name and date of birth. Regardless of which option you use, you must know the person's country of birth.
ICE's website only shows information for detainees who are 18 or older. It can take days for a detainee's information to appear in the system.
It is possible for a person to be removed from the country within 48 hours through an 'expedited removal,' according to the American Immigration Council.
If the person you're looking for doesn't show up in the ICE database, the National Immigration Law Center recommends reaching out to the local ICE Field Office as a next step.
According to ICE's website , the agency's Indianapolis office can be reached by calling 317- 216-0260 or emailing Chicago.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov .
What is an A-number?
An alien registration number – commonly known as an A-number – is a unique permanent ID that stays with a person as they navigate the immigration system. U.S. Citizens and Immigration Services assigns the numbers to people with different kinds of cases, including green card applicants, asylum seekers and DACA recipients.
They're not assigned for people on short-term visas, like tourists, students or temporary agricultural workers.
People who've never been assigned an A-number get one at the start of deportation proceedings if they're picked up by immigration enforcement.
Do all undocumented immigrants have an A-number?
Because an A-number is assigned to a person when they first interact with the formal immigration system, people who cross the border undetected don't receive them. U.S. Citizens and Immigration Services assigns them at the beginning of deportation proceedings.
How to check on the status of an immigration case
Once you have a person's A-number, you can look up the status of their case in the justice department's Automated Case Information System . The website shows the status of a person's case, their next hearing date and whether a judge has ordered their removal.
Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at rhmurphy@indystar.com .
Noe Padilla contributed reporting to this article.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: How to locate someone in immigration detention amid Indiana ICE surge
