The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) National Detainee Handbook was designed to standardize the essential ICE-related information that is disseminated to all ICE detainees. The purpose of the handbook is to provide an overview of the general rules, regulations, policies, and procedures that detainees are required to follow while in ICE custody. The ICE National Detainee Handbook also provides an overview of the programs and services available while detainees are residing in an ICE-approved facility. In addition to this handbook, the detention facility will provide a local supplement to the detainee handbook that should address facility-specific items such as meal schedules, staff-detainee communication, visiting procedures, etc.

The National Detainee Handbook is currently available in 17 languages: English, Spanish, Arabic, Bengali, French, Haitian Creole, Hindi, K'iche' (Quiché)/Kxlantzij, Portuguese, Pulaar, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Turkish, Vietnamese and Wolof. Where the handbook is not currently translated into a detainee’s language, the information therein (or pertinent parts) must be orally interpreted for that detainee through a professional interpreter.