San Antonio Field Office
Willacy Detention Center

About Us

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

Who Are We?

This is a service owned and operated detention center for individuals who are waiting for their immigration status to be determined or who are awaiting repatriation. ICE Detention & Removal Operations (DRO) administers the operations of this facility.

Detention and Removal Operations
Field Office Director: Michael J. Pitts
Assistant Field Office Director: Diana Perez
(956) 689-7855

Management and Training Corporation (MTC)
Warden: Ernesto Velasco
Associate Wardens: Rolando Trevino and Ruben Benavidez
(956) 689-9218

Where Are We?

Willacy Detention Center
1800 Industrial Drive
Raymondville, Texas 78580
(956) 689-9218

Parking: Designated parking is available at both ICE and MTC administration buildings.  Special needs parking are also available in front of both administration buildings.

Accessibility for Individuals with Special Needs: Facility is special needs accessible and all other accommodations will be made upon request.

Hours and Visitations

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

Saturdays and Sundays including Federal Holidays 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Male detainee visitation - 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Female detainee visitation - 1 p.m. to 6 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.

Attorney Visitation Hours:

Attorneys and legal representatives designated visitation hours are as follows: 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday-Sunday. After hours visitation will be allowed on a case by case basis with the approval of the Captain/Duty Warden. All visits are private. 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. This list is updated quarterly.

Consular Visits:

Consular officials may meet with their detained nationals at normal attorney visitation hours from 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. All visits are private. It is requested that prior arrangements be made with the office of the 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) 689-7855.

Clergy Visits:

Clergy may visit detainees at any time, but must make prior arrangements with the MTC Chaplin, Jose Barrera. The  IGSA Facility has the following religious services / programs available to detainees:  Catholic Services, Islamic Services,  Protestant Services, Non Denominational services.  Any other denominations wishing to hold services should contact Chaplain Jose Barrera at (956) 689-9218 ext 292.

Visiting Restrictions:

• All family / social visits are non-contact.
• No firearms or weapons of any kind are permitted in the facility.
• If visitors are or appear to be under the influence of alcohol or any drug, visitation will not be allowed.
• Each detainee is permitted to have a maximum of two (2) visitors at a time. Visits will be limited to a duration of 30 minutes.
• All visitors are subject to search.
• Visitors are not allowed to pass or attempt to pass any items to detainees.
• Children must be under control at all times.
• Please dress appropriately. The following is a list of unacceptable attire (but is notlimited to this list):
  mini skirts, short shorts, bare feet, tank tops, tube tops
  sexually explicit attire, transparent or translucent material
  (see through clothes) or, anything deemed to be inappropriate attire by the ICE officer on duty.
• Visitors are not allowed to chew gum in the facility.
• Visitors are not allowed to carry any items into the visitation area.
• 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.

Contacting Us

Detention:

Many of the detainees held in the facility were taken into custody at one of the area’s surrounding airports and seaports / or by other ICE or DHS Components.  Some detainees have been transferred in from other states.  If you need information about a detainee you may call (956) 689-9218 during normal business hours.  (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 )689-9218 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:

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

Harlingen Immigration Court
2009 West Jefferson
Suite 300
Harlingen, TX 78550

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.

Legal Help:

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

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, Diana Perez Assistant Field Office Director, Willacy Detention Center, 1800 Industrial Drive, Raymondville, Texas 78580.

If you feel that an ICE employee or a Contract / IGSA 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,
San Antonio Texas 78239

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.  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) 689-7855 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:

Commissary services are available to detainees at this facility. Orders are accepted upon request on a daily basis, and to the extent possible, delivered on Tuesdays and Thursdays afternoon. Phone cards will be issued Mondays and Wednesdays after 3:30 p.m.

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:

Detainees may receive mail from anyone they know personally.  The letter/mail must have the detainee’s immigration number (File Number), plus the sender’s name and address.  All incoming social and legal mail will be opened and inspected for contraband.  The mail is not read, only inspected by the delivering officer.  When a detainee departs the facility, his or her mail is sent to the forwarding address.  If no forwarding address is provided, the mail is endorsed, "No Forwarding Address, Return to Sender", and then returned to the Post Office.

Medical Care:

The IGSA facility is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with qualified medical staff of United States Division of Immigration Health Services (USDIHS).  They are responsible for the medical services provided at the facility.  If a medical emergency arises that the USDIHS 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 Sending Money Out:

To withdraw money from an account a detainee must submit a request form.  Upon submitting request form finance will provide detainee money order and detainee will be allowed to mail money order.

Receiving Money:

Detainees are allowed to receive money by money order and funds will be deposited into detainees account and receipt will be issued.

Sending Packages:

A detainee may send out packages at his or her own expense.  In some cases, the agency may pay for an indigent detainee to send packages within the United States.

Receiving Packages:

A detainee may receive items that are determined to be of necessity for the sole purpose of travel or release from agency custody with approval of the Warden.  No items should be sent to a detainee without the supervisor’s approval.  Also, hygiene items are not permitted from outside sources.  These are issued or purchased by the detainee at the facility.  Do not send magazines and photographs depicting nudity or explicit sexual acts.  Material offering training in martial arts, destructive device manufacturing, or similar devices is prohibited.  Any food items received will be confiscated and destroyed in the presence of the detainee.  The receipt of newspapers, magazines and catalogs are prohibited in accordance with the ICE National Detainee Handbook.  If a detainee was arrested without property and will be removed from the United States, you may drop off one bag of luggage for him or her, weighing no more than 40 pounds.  A detainee arrested at an airport or seaport who already has baggage in excess of 40 pounds, will not be allowed any additional luggage.  Please be advised that for security reasons, no electronic devices (cell phones, electric razors, lap-top computers, radios, etc.) will be accepted.

Religious Services and Observances:

Detainees in the facility have access to religious resources, services, instructions, and counseling on a voluntary basis.  See “Clergy Visits” above.  Detainees are extended the opportunity to pursue any legitimate religious belief or practice within the constraints of security and safety.  The facility employs a chaplain to accommodate all religious needs and services.  Religious items are available on request such as bibles (in different languages), prayer beads, rugs and literature.

Smoking:

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

Making Telephone Calls:

Telephones are available for detainee use in the housing areas from 7 a.m. until lights out at 10 p.m.  Telephone calls are made by using calling cards or collect calls, and made at the expense of the detainee or the person being called.  Detainees that need to make emergency calls, such as in the case of illness or death in the family; may request the use of an office telephone from ICE or the facility Chaplin.

All detainee calls are suspended at count time, 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.

Detainee telephones are subject to monitoring.

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) 689-9218 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.

Making a Call:

Pre-paid phone cards may be purchased by the detainee upon admittance to the facility – thereafter, purchased Tuesdays and Fridays 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. International, national and local collect calls may be made on these phones as well.