I\u2019m a law professor at Temple University in Philadelphia, where I work with immigrant rights organizations<\/a> on issues of ICE arrest and detention.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what we know about how and where ICE is holding people as of May 2026.<\/p>\n A confusing web of detention facilities<\/b> <\/p>\n When a person is arrested by ICE, the lack of a centralized immigration detention system makes it hard to figure out where they are.<\/p>\n For ICE detention, the federal government can contract with counties for county jail space or to execute service agreements with private prison companies. ICE also contracts with the Federal Bureau of Prisons to hold immigrants in their facilities.<\/p>\n Pennsylvania is no exception to this patchwork system. Four county jails \u2014 in Pike,<\/a> Clinton,<\/a> Cambria<\/a> and Franklin<\/a> counties \u2014 have contracts with the federal government to detain immigrants for ICE. Pike County, for example, received $16 million from ICE in 2024 and 2025<\/a> for use of its jail.<\/p>\n Further, ICE contracts with Centre County<\/a> so the county can serve as a pass-through for payment to the private prison company, the Geo Group,<\/a> which runs the Moshannon Valley Processing Center.<\/a> Moshannon is the largest detention center in the Northeast<\/a> with 1,876 beds. This pass-through system allows the federal government to avoid the burdensome Federal Acquisition System<\/a> for contractors. That purchasing system is governed by uniform policies that apply to all federal agencies that enter into contracts for services to ensure that business is conducted with integrity, fairness and transparency.<\/p>\n ICE pays millions of dollars each month<\/a> to operate the Moshannon Valley facility.<\/p>\n Most recently, ICE set up contracts with two Bureau of Prison facilities in PA to hold immigrants: the federal detention center in Philadelphia<\/a> and the federal prison FCI Lewisburg.<\/a><\/p>\n After a person has been arrested by ICE, major federal policy changes that are intended to keep people locked up or have them deported make it difficult to get that person released.<\/p>\n For example, ICE has issued new guidance<\/a> that expands who is subject to mandatory detention without access to a bond hearing to include anyone who entered the U.S. without a visa. This policy is currently being legally challenged<\/a> by the ACLU along with other groups.<\/a><\/p>\n Additionally, ICE releases many fewer people.<\/a> Under federal law,<\/a> ICE has the discretion to release most people, unless they fall into a specialized category of \u201ccriminal aliens.\u201d Previously, people were released on parole or on their own recognizance,<\/a> sometimes with an order of supervision or bond.<\/p>\n As a result, immigration detention has reached unprecedented levels.<\/a> Over 70,000 people were held in immigration detention<\/a> in the U.S. as of January 2026. As of April 2, 2026, over 2,000 people<\/a> were held in immigration detention in PA alone.<\/p>\n Isolated from family and legal advice<\/b> <\/p>\n Once arrested, ICE detainees have a hard time contacting the outside world.<\/p>\n Upon arrival at a facility, they are stripped of their belongings,<\/a> including their cellphone. They must pay for telephone calls<\/a> to their family or get others to pay by putting money in their commissary account.<\/p>\n Further, ICE detention facilities are often outside of major urban areas and far from legal services and community support. Moshannon, for example, is over 100 miles from any nonprofit immigration attorneys<\/a> who provide representation to people in immigration removal proceedings.<\/p>\n Previously, the federal government funded a Legal Orientation Program<\/a> where nongovernmental legal services offered information, referrals and representation to those in detention. In 2025, the Department of Justice ended the program,<\/a> justifying its termination based on the executive order entitled \u201cProtecting the American People Against Invasion.<\/a>\u201d Section 19 of that executive order relates to reviewing, pausing or terminating contracts, grants or other agreements with nongovernmental organizations that support or provide services \u201cto removable or illegal aliens.\u201d<\/p>\n Out-of-state transfers are common<\/b> <\/p>\n ICE\u2019s movement of people without notice across different facilities is a long-standing practice. However, a recent UCLA study found that out-of-state transfers of noncriminal Latino detainees jumped from 18 percent to 55 percent<\/a> after President Donald Trump\u2019s reelection in 2024.<\/p>\n Transfers are mostly about ICE\u2019s own efficiency in maximizing the filling of bed space. Some advocacy organizations have alleged that transfers are conducted for retaliatory reasons<\/a> against people who make requests or complain. Transfers are not only disorienting for the person involved but also impede communication with family and access to legal counsel.<\/a><\/p>\n How to find someone in ICE detention<\/b> <\/p>\n Several online guides provide information about how to locate someone<\/a> after an ICE arrest and how to prepare their family<\/a> in case of future arrest.<\/p>\n Here are some key tips.<\/p>\n The locator requires either a person\u2019s country of birth and alien registration number \u2014 called an \u201cA number\u201d \u2014 or their full name and date of birth. A person might have an A number if they have a past or present case with the government, including having applied for a green card or asylum. It can take 48 hours for ICE to enter information about the person into its database so it can be picked up by the online locator. Note: When searching, the name must be an exact match with what was entered into the system.<\/p>\n The Philadelphia field office<\/a> covers Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. If you are a noncitizen, you might want a U.S. citizen to do this for you out of an abundance of caution, because ICE records information about the person calling. Call (215) 656-7164 or email Philadelphia.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n In many instances, ICE is supposed to notify the consulate of the arrested person\u2019s home country within 72 hours.<\/a> You can call the consulate of the country of origin of the detainee to ask about their whereabouts.<\/p>\n In Philadelphia, community groups such as Asian Americans United,<\/a> Juntos<\/a> and New Sanctuary Movement,<\/a> or the statewide Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition,<\/a> might be able to help you. An attorney might also be able to help you. Here is a list of nonprofit legal service providers in PA.<\/a><\/p>\n Further, you can ask for help from your federal elected officials, such as your congressional representative or PA Senators John Fetterman<\/a> or Dave McCormick.<\/a> If you have a more direct relationship with a local elected official, such as your City Councilmember,<\/a> it cannot hurt to see whether they can also help you.<\/p>\n How to prepare in advance<\/b> <\/p>\n If you know someone who is at risk of arrest by ICE, you can help them prepare in advance.<\/p>\n Tell them to:<\/p>\n This includes their A number as well as immigration documents, passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, tax returns and any employment and medical records. If they have children, make sure to include their passports, birth certificates and medical records.<\/p>\n They should know the numbers of family members and their attorney in case their cellphone is taken from them.<\/p>\n A family preparedness plan<\/a> includes designating a caregiver for children in case a parent or guardian is arrested. They should also consider filling out documents that may help a family member or friend to care for their children<\/a> if they are unavailable because of detention or deportation. These include forms<\/a> that provide temporary guardianship or custody of minor children, consent for medical care of minor children and information for the School District of Philadelphia.<\/p>\n Philadelphia Legal Assistance provides free downloadable packets in English<\/a> and in Spanish<\/a> to build a family preparedness plan.<\/p>\n Jennifer J. Lee is an Associate Professor of Law at Temple University.<\/p>\n<\/a>Immigrants are held in at least 7 facilities in Pennsylvania. These facilities include 4 county jails, 2 federal prisons and 1 private prison. Map: The Conversation, CC-BY-ND. Created with Datawrapper Over 2,000 immigrants in detention in PA<\/b> <\/p>\n
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<\/a>This online search tool can help locate an adult detainee in ICE or Customs and Border Protection custody. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement <\/p>\n
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