ICE Quietly Stops Disclosing Locations of Thousands of Detained Immigrants, Raising Alarm Among Lawyers and Families
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has quietly stopped publicly revealing where it is holding thousands of detainees who are subject to final deportation orders, an unannounced move that has made it far more difficult for lawyers and relatives to find them, according to current and former officials familiar with the practice. The change, which took effect on 15 September, removed those detainees from ICE’s online detainee locator system, a critical tool used by attorneys, family members, and advocates to track individuals in immigration custody.
The removal was confirmed by three current and former ICE officials who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the change. Several lawyers contacted by the AP also confirmed that their clients vanished from the system this week. On Friday, the American Immigration Lawyers Association warned its members about the situation, advising them that detainees with final orders of removal may no longer appear in the locator. This lack of transparency severely hampers legal representation and family communication, leaving many detainees effectively unlocatable.
The timing of the change coincides with heightened immigration enforcement activity. A federal judge on January 31, 2026 denied Minnesota’s bid to force ICE to suspend its sweeping detention and deportation operation in the state, an operation that has left two U.S. citizens dead and fueled massive protests. The decision, along with the secretive removal of detainee information, underscores growing concerns about accountability and due process in immigration enforcement.
As Truthout celebrates 25 years of publication, we remain committed to reporting on issues that affect marginalized communities. If you can support Truthout with a one-time or monthly donation, you will make a significant impact on our work and our legacy. Your contribution helps us continue to shed light on stories that might otherwise go untold. (Note: A required part of this site couldn’t load. This may be due to a browser extension, network issues, or browser settings.)
Shimanta Das 
