U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has stopped publicly revealing the locations of detainees with final deportation orders in its online locator system, according to current and former officials familiar with the practice. The agency removed those detainees from the system on September 15, making it far more difficult for lawyers and relatives to find them.
Key Takeaways
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has stopped publicly revealing the locations of detainees with final deportation orders in its online locator system. This change makes it harder for lawyers and relatives to find them.
- ICE removed detainees with final removal orders from its online locator system on September 15.
- The move applies to nearly 16,000 people arrested and booked into ICE detention in July.
- Exceptions include detainees held at facilities in Adelanto, Minneapolis, New York City, or suburban Chicago.
- Lawyers and relatives lost track of clients and loved ones without explanation.
- The change could make it nearly impossible for some to challenge their removals.
⚖
▼Source Claims Check
High ConsensusAll 3 publishers report consistent facts across 3 key claims.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date Of Removal From Locator System | Broad Agreement | September 15, 2023 | |
| Number Of Detainees Affected In July | Broad Agreement | Nearly 16,000 people arrested and booked into ICE detention | |
| Exceptions To The Removal From Locator System | Broad Agreement | Detainees held at facilities in Adelanto, Minneapolis, New York City, or suburban Chicago |
Date Of Removal From Locator System
Broad AgreementSeptember 15, 2023
Number Of Detainees Affected In July
Broad AgreementNearly 16,000 people arrested and booked into ICE detention
Exceptions To The Removal From Locator System
Broad AgreementDetainees held at facilities in Adelanto, Minneapolis, New York City, or suburban Chicago
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
This change affects nearly 16,000 people who were arrested and booked into ICE detention in July, representing over a third of overall bookings. The practice does not apply to detainees held at facilities in Adelanto, California, or temporary holding facilities in Minneapolis, New York City, or suburban Chicago.
The move has raised concerns among immigration lawyers and advocates. Greg Chen, senior director of government relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), stated that families are 'freaking out' because they think their loved ones have been deported but don't know where they might be. The change also interferes with attorney-client relationships.
ICE did not confirm or deny the move in a statement issued to the Associated Press. The agency said detainees with final removal orders were being prioritized for deportation, even as ICE faces numerous injunctions from courts stopping individual removals.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 3 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.