San Antonio Office
Laredo Detention Facility

About Us

Who Are We?
Where Are We?
Hours and Visitations
Contacting Us
Local Procedures

Who Are We?

This is a temporary detention center for individuals who are waiting for their immigration status to be determined or who are awaiting repatriation. ICE Detention & Removal Operations (DRO) has an Inter-Governmental Services Agreement (IGSA) with Webb County, Texas. ICE works together with Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) to administer the operations of this facility.

Detention and Removal Operations
Field Office Director: Marc J. Moore
Acting Assistant Field Office Director: Rick Cortez
(956) 729-9655

Correction Corporations of America (CCA)
Warden: Juan S. Diaz
Chief of Security: Arnoldo Zepeda
(956) 727-4118

Where Are We?

Street Address:
4702 East Saunders Street
Laredo, Texas 78401
(956) 727-4118

Parking: Parking available to general public in front of the facility.

Accessibility for Individuals with Special Needs: Special needs customers may use the CCA Detention Facility front entrance. There are several parking spaces set aside for special needs customers.

Hours and Visitations

Visiting Hours (see also "Search Procedures" under Local Procedures, below)

Monday 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Friday 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Holiday 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

OUT OF TOWN VISITORS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL AHEAD FOR ANY CHANGE IN VISITATION SCHEDULES.

General Visitation

Visitors must have a valid verifiable photo identification card.

Minors who are visiting the facility must be accompanied by an adult guardian (18 years or older). Children must not be left unaccompanied in the waiting room, visiting room or any other area. Any disruptive conduct on either party will result in the termination of the visit. Any variations will require prior approval by the Facility Warden or designee.

Visitation schedule is subject to change.

Attorney Visitation Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily.

Legal representatives of detainees are authorized to visit their clients every day during normal hours. From 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Attorneys may visit detainees as described above (see “Attorney Visiting Hours”) in order to determine whether an attorney/client relationship will be established. Return visits by an attorney for the purpose of legal consultation will require the filing of a G-28 with the court.

A list of pro bono (free) legal organizations is posted in all detainee housing units and other appropriate areas. The list is updated quarterly

Return visits by an attorney for the purpose of legal consultation will require the filing of a G-28 with the court.

Consular Visits:

Consular officials may meet with their detained nationals during regular business hours and/or as authorized by ICE. It is requested that prior arrangements be made with the office of the ICE Assistant Field Office Director to the extent possible, and that consular officials bring appropriate credentials when they come to the facility. The Assistant Field Office Director can be reached at (956) 729-9655.

Clergy Visits:

Clergy may visit detainees at any time, but must make prior arrangements with the Office of the ICE Assistant Field Office Director. The facility has the following religious services/programs available to detainees: Catholic Services, Laredo Christian Center, First Assembly of God, Jehovah Witness, Ambassador of Christ and Religious Observance without a Pastor. Any other denominations wishing to hold services should contact the Warden in writing at the above address.

Visiting Restrictions:

1. All family / social visits are non-contact.
2. No firearms or weapons of any kind are permitted in the facility.
3. If visitors are or appear to be under the influence of alcohol or any drug, visitation will not be allowed.
4. Visits will be limited to of 1 hour, with a minimum of 30 minutes.
5. All visitors are subject to search.
6. Visitors are not allowed to pass or attempt to pass any items to detainees.
7. Children must be under control at all times.
8. Please dress appropriately. The following is a list of unacceptable attire (but is not limited to this list):
• Mini skirts
• Short shorts
• Bare feet
• Tank tops
• Tube tops
• Sexually explicit attire
• Transparent or translucent material (see through clothes)
• Anything deemed to be inappropriate attire by the ICE officer on duty
9. Visitors are not allowed to chew gum in the facility.
10. Visitors are not allowed to carry any items into the visitation area.
11. If contraband such as drugs, alcohol, or weapons are found on any person, that person may be subject to prosecution.

Search Procedures:

All individuals requesting admittance to the facility or the visitation area are subject to a pat-down search of their person, an inspection of their belongings, and a metal scan search. Individuals refusing to cooperate with a reasonable search will not be admitted. No firearms or weapons of any kind are permitted. No electronic devices (cell phones, pagers, radios, etc.) are permitted in the secure areas of this facility. All detainees are required to submit to a search when visiting with their family members, friends, attorneys, paralegal, etc., prior to the start of the visit. Detainees will also be subject to a pat-down search upon termination of their visit.

The visitation privileges may be temporarily suspended pending the completion of the above process.

Contacting Us

Detention:

Many of the detainees held in the facility were taken into custody at one of the area’s surrounding airports and land border ports or by other ICE or DHS Components. Some detainees have been transferred from other states. If you need information about a detainee you may call (956) 729-9655 during normal business hours Monday thru Friday (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). (Please do not call until the detainee has been in our custody for at least 24 hours). When you do call, please have his or her biographical information ready, including first, last and hyphenated names, any alias names he/she may use, date of birth and country of birth. If you do not have this information, we may not be able to help you.

The only information you will receive is the detainee’s alien registration number. If you need to get in touch with a detainee you must call (956) 727-4118 and leave the detainee’s full name, alien registration number and a telephone number where you can be reached. He or she will be given your message.

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA):

All FOIA/PA requests must be submitted on form G-639 (Freedom of Information / Privacy Act Request) or in letter format. All requests must contain the original notarized signature of the subject in question. Please complete the form G-639 thoroughly and if writing a letter, be sure to include your full name, any other names used, date of birth, place of birth, A-number, and your address and telephone number, so that we may contact you if we have any questions.

Mail your FOIA/PA request to:

Mail (U.S.Postal System and all overnight mail/Fedex):
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Freedom of Information Act Office
800 North Capitol Street, NW, Room 585
Washington, DC 20536

Phone – 1-866-633-1182
E-mail – ICE-FOIA@dhs.gov

Finding the status of your case at the court:

For information about a matter before the Immigration Court you may contact them at 1-800-898-7180.

Filing with the Immigration Court:

OFFICE OF THE IMMIGRATION JUDGE
EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW
800 Dolorosa Street, Suite 300
San Antonio, Texas 78207

Applications for relief from removal, stay of removal, and other applications requested by the Immigration Judge must be filed directly with the Immigration Court at the address above.

Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA):

For information about a matter before the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) you may contact them at (703) 605-1007 where you can obtain automated information and/or speak to a live representative during office hours. Their menu of automated options includes:

• Information about the Board's mailing address, location, and web site information
• Appeals and motions
• Transcripts and briefs
• Board decisions and stays of deportation
• Change of address

Legal Help:

Click the link for a list of pro bono representatives who might be able to assist you.

Talking with the Press/Media:

The Facility has a responsibility to protect the privacy and other rights of detainees and members of the staff; therefore, interviews will be regulated to ensure the orderly and safe operation of the Facility. Ordinarily, live television or radio interviews will not be permitted in the facility.

Correspondence and Phone Contacts with the Media:
Detainees may correspond with the media and may use facility telephones at their own expense to call the media.

Personal Interviews:
A news media representative who desires to conduct an interview with a detainee must apply in writing to the San Antonio Office of Detention and Removal, indicating familiarity with and agreement to comply with the rules and regulations of the Facility as provided to that person by staff.

Detainee Consent:
A detainee has the right not to be interviewed, photographed, or recorded by the media. Before interviewing, photographing, or recording the voice of a detainee, a visiting representative of the media must obtain written permission from that individual.

Press Information Office: For press inquiries, please contact the ICE Public Affairs Officer in San Antonio, Texas, at (210) 321-2811.

Feedback:

We strive to provide quality service to people in our custody, their family, friends, and to their official representatives. If you believe that we have not lived up to this commitment, we would like to know. If we have met or exceeded your expectations, please let us know that as well. To comment on the services provided at this office, please write to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Assistant Field Office Director, 4602 East Saunders Laredo, Texas 78041.

If you feel that an ICE employee or a facility employee mistreated you and wish to make a complaint of misconduct, you may call or write to:

Director of Detention and Removal Operations
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
8940 Fourwinds Drive
San Antonio, Texas 78239
(210) 967-7056

or

Director, Office of Professional Responsibility
425 “I” Street, NW
Room 3260
Washington, DC 20229
(877) 246-8253

You may also file a Complaint by filing a DHS Form I-847.

Local Procedures

Bonds:

To post a Departure or Delivery Bond:

These bonds are posted when a person has been placed into Removal/Deportation Proceedings while in the United States. The person supplying the bond money must show proof of identity and social security card. This person (the obligor) is responsible for ensuring that the alien presents himself before an officer or agent of this agency whenever a request is made. For bond information, please call (956) 729-9655 and ask to speak to the Deportation Officer handling the case. You must have the last name of the detainee and alien registration number before calling.

Commissary:

This facility provides a commissary service that allows detainees to purchase items, to supplement what is issued to them. Detainees will be allowed to purchase food and other items from the commissary. Commissary opportunities will be verbally announced by the on duty post officer and/or posted in the dormitory bulletin board. Commissary schedule is subject to change. Commissary will be held at least two times per week for each dormitory.

Mail:

A postal allowance has been established at government expense for indigent detainees. Detainees will be permitted to mail a reasonable amount of mail each week, including five pieces of special correspondence and three pieces of general correspondence. The facility generally does not limit the amount of correspondence detainees may send at their own expense, except to protect public safety or facility security and order. All outgoing mail must have a return address with the detainee’s name, alien registration number, and complete address of the facility clearly written on the envelope.

Receiving Mail:

Incoming mail will be distributed within 24 hours, packages within 48 hours of receipt, excluding weekends and holidays when it will be distributed the next administrative working day.

Sending Mail:

Outgoing mail will be posted within 24 hours of the time the mail was turned over to the facility by the inmate/resident, excluding weekends and holidays when it will be posted the next administrative working day. Packages will be held no longer than 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays. The detainee must have their full name, A-number, Housing Unit and the facility address on all outgoing mail. The detainee will seal outgoing mail and leave it in the locked mail drop box located in each building.

Medical Care:

The facility is staffed 7 days a week, Monday thru Friday until 12 midnight and on weekends until 10PM with qualified medical staff of US Division of Immigration Health Services (DIHS). They are responsible for the medical services provided at the facility. If a medical emergency arises that DIHS staff is unable to control or is beyond the scope of their practice, or the detainee is in need of more comprehensive care, the detainee will be referred to the nearest emergency medical facility.

Money:

Detainee Receiving/Sending Money Out:

Detainees may receive cash, checks, money orders, and other negotiable instruments. Funds received through the mail must be in the form of a money order or cashiers check made payable to the detainee. Cash and personal checks are not accepted and will be returned to sender. The detainee’s name & a-number must be written on the envelope and money order. Any money orders not addressed to a specific detainee will be returned to sender and marked undeliverable. The detainee will receive a receipt through the facility mail for all funds received in the mail which will include the detainee’s name, number, and amount. Funds will be safe-guarded and credited to the detainee’s account.

Receiving/Sending Packages:

Detainees may be permitted to receive packages including:

• One (1) pair of tennis shoes
• One (1) non-hooded jacket (zipper and/or button up only)

All packages must be from an approved vendor only, unless pre-approved by the administrator or assistant administrator.

Detainees may recieve three (3) packages every six (6) months.

Religious Services and Observances:

All detainees shall have access to religious resources, services, instruction and counseling on a voluntary basis. Detainees shall be afforded the greatest freedom and opportunity to pursue legitimate religious beliefs or practices within the constraints of safety and security requirements. Various religious services are provided daily by different denominational services. Schedules for religious services are posted at each housing unit. If a detainee requires religious services or privileges not provided, they must complete a detainee request form. Designated staff will consult with appropriate members of the religious community in assessing their request

Religious Observances - (Ramadan; Passover; and Lent)

Smoking:

This is a non-smoking facility. No cigarettes, tobacco, or smoking paraphernalia is allowed.

Making Telephone Calls:

Telephones are available in the housing area and other areas within the confines of the facility for detainees to use. Telephone calls are debit or collect calls, and made at the expense of the detainee or the person called.

All detainee calls are suspended in the event of an emergency and/or when the staff determines it is necessary to ensure the safety of officers and detainees at the facility.

Pre-paid phone cards may be purchased by the detainee upon admittance to the facility – thereafter, purchased through the facility Commissary as per posted schedule for use with the phones located in the dormitories. These cards may be used for all calls, local, national and international long distance calls. The cost of the card will be deducted from the detainee personal account. Only facility purchased cards may be used in facility phones – detainees cannot use personal phone cards. National and local collect calls may be made on these phones as well.

Consular and Attorney Phone Calls:

Detainees can call their consulates or embassies free of charge, as well as several pro bono (free) legal organizations. Those numbers are updated as necessary.

Calling a Detainee:

Detainees cannot receive incoming calls. If you need to get in touch with a detainee to leave an urgent message, you must call (956) 727-4118 and leave the detainee’s full name, alien registration number and your name and telephone number where you can be reached. The detainee will be given your message and advised to return your call as soon as possible.

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