Detainees Removed From Locator
ICE Removes Thousands of Detainees From Its Online Locator System
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Key Points
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Greg Chen of the American Immigration Lawyers Association said families fear detainees may already have been deported because they cannot determine where their relatives are, while the policy also makes it harder for attorneys to contact clients.
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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center said the change affects both people who have been detained for months and newly arrested individuals: detainees may disappear from the locator even if they have not been transferred, while new arrests may not appear in the system at all.
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The policy could obstruct habeas corpus petitions because attorneys may not know which federal district has jurisdiction after a detainee is moved in preparation for removal. Under the cited legal framework, ICE generally has about 90 days to carry out a final removal order, although cases can potentially be reopened or detention challenged during that period.
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The impact was illustrated by the case of Wilber Rafael Garcés Perez, a 28-year-old DoorDash driver from Austin who was detained after being shot by ICE agents. His attorney initially could not locate him; he was later found at a processing center in Pearsall, Texas.
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Michelle Mendez, legal director of the National Immigration Project, characterized the policy as another instance of people being made effectively untraceable and questioned its compatibility with individual rights and due process.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has quietly removed thousands of detainees from its online locator system, making it harder for lawyers and families to find people facing deportation NBC San Diego. The change took effect September 15 and affects people with final removal orders—nearly 16,000 in July alone, more than one-third of all ICE bookings that month Truthout. Detainees may now disappear from the public database even without being transferred, and newly arrested immigrants might never appear at all 9News.
How the Locator Removal Blocks Legal Help
Lawyers can no longer contact clients or learn which federal court has jurisdiction over their cases NBC San Diego. Greg Chen of the American Immigration Lawyers Association said families fear their relatives have already been deported because they cannot locate them Truthout. Without knowing where someone is held, attorneys cannot file emergency habeas corpus petitions to challenge detention.
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center said the policy affects both longtime detainees and newly arrested people Truthout. ICE has roughly 90 days to deport someone with a final order, but cases can be reopened or detention challenged during that window—if lawyers can find their clients.
A Real Case: DoorDash Driver Lost in the System
Wilber Rafael Garcés Perez, a 28-year-old from Austin, was detained after ICE agents shot him Truthout. His attorney initially could not locate him in the database. He was eventually found at a processing center in Pearsall, Texas—but only after time-consuming searches that could delay legal action.
Due Process and Disappearance Concerns
Michelle Mendez, legal director of the National Immigration Project, said the policy makes people effectively untraceable and raises serious constitutional questions Truthout. ICE claims it is prioritizing detainees with final orders due to an unusually large number of court injunctions. However, the policy reportedly does not apply to facilities in Adelanto, California, or in Minneapolis, New York City, and suburban Chicago, where court orders require prompt listing NBC San Diego.
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