How to Find Someone Detained by ICE and Check an Adelanto Immigration Case

Finding a person at Adelanto and finding that person's court case are different tasks. The detention facility can confirm custody and relay messages; the immigration court keeps its own hearing and filing record. A transfer can change where the person is held before a family receives a new notice. Use the person's A-number, keep each dated result, and check both systems rather than assuming one updates the other immediately.

Confirm the current detention location and A-number

Start with ICE's Online Detainee Locator. It accepts an A-number and country of birth, or a name, date of birth and country of birth. Record exactly what the search shows, when you checked, and any facility name. A missing result does not establish that the person is free: Check identifying details and follow up with ICE or counsel, especially soon after an arrest or transfer.

ICE lists the Adelanto ICE Processing Center detainee information line as (760) 561-6100. Have the person's full name, aliases, birth date and country of birth available. ICE says detainees cannot receive incoming calls; to leave a message, provide the person's name and A-number plus your callback number. This line concerns detention, not a court filing or an appeal.

Distinguish the Adelanto court from the facility

The Adelanto Immigration Court is part of the Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), not the detention facility. EOIR lists its telephone number as (760) 561-6500. Its court page says filings are accepted only at the Adelanto West facility; it does not accept unsolicited faxes or other electronic submissions unless court staff or the judge specifically requests them. Check that page and the court's current instructions before sending a document; handing it to detention staff is not filing it with the court.

If an attorney is involved, ask for the court hearing notice, the attorney's appearance information and the applicable electronic-filing instructions. Facility staff and court staff answer different questions. Record which office gave an answer rather than treating a facility response as a ruling by the immigration judge.

Check the EOIR case and preserve every notice

EOIR's Automated Case Information service is available online and at 1-800-898-7180. It can help identify a scheduled hearing or decision, but EOIR says court documents, including hearing notices, are the official source. The system may show no new hearing date until the court actually sets one. Keep the latest notice and scheduling order, and do not infer that an unchanged automated listing cancels a known hearing.

If the person or counsel changes an address or telephone number during proceedings, EOIR generally requires Form EOIR-33/IC within five days for a court case; a Board case uses EOIR-33/BIA. EOIR's address rule says notification to DHS does not notify the court or Board. Keep filing and service proof with the notices, including any document received after a transfer.

Transfers, counsel access, and urgent deadlines

ICE's Detainee Transfers policy 11022.1 identifies factors for transfers outside a field office's area, including immediate family, an attorney of record, pending proceedings and a scheduled bond hearing. It also directs notice to an attorney of record as soon as practicable on the transfer day and no later than 24 hours. The policy does not require ICE to notify family members. Tell counsel promptly if the locator shows a different facility and preserve the date, location and any transfer notice.

If the immigration judge has decided the case, do not let a transfer distract from the appeal period. EOIR says Form EOIR-26 generally must reach the Board of Immigration Appeals within 30 calendar days after an oral decision or mailing of a written decision. Bring counsel the decision, mailing information, A-number and detention-location history immediately. Custody location, court venue, bond, appeal and federal-court remedies are separate questions that require the current record.