ICE maintains a public database of people in its custody — the Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS), at locator.ice.gov. Family members, attorneys, and members of the public can use it to check whether an adult (18 or older) is in ICE custody and at which facility. The system runs 24/7 and is available in several languages.

Status as of July 12, 2026. The number of people in ICE custody remained at historically high levels through 2026: according to the research group TRAC, 68,289 people were in immigration detention as of February 7, 2026 — up from roughly 39,000 at the start of 2025. The locator is the first tool families turn to after a detention; its data does not update instantly, and transfers between facilities appear with a delay.

How the search works

The ODLS accepts a query two ways. The first is by A-Number (Alien Number, an 8–9 digit registration number) together with the person's date of birth. The A-Number appears on correspondence from DHS and the immigration court (EOIR), on USCIS receipt notices, on the work permit (EAD, Employment Authorization Document), and on the green card. The second is a biographical search: first name, last name, country of birth, and date of birth.

The search is exact-match, with no fuzzy logic: the name must match how it was entered by the intake officer. Misspellings, a different order of first and last name, a middle name, or spelling variations can return no result — so it helps to try several variations, including with and without a hyphen. It is worth saving a screenshot of any record found: it shows the facility and its contact details, and the person may later be transferred elsewhere.

Who the locator does not show, and what to do if a person isn't found

The system covers people detained by ICE specifically. Several categories do not appear:

  • people under 18 detained inside the country do not show up (adults in family detention centers appear; their children do not);
  • a record does not appear immediately — processing and entry into the system after a detention takes time, from a few hours to a day or more;
  • the database is not real-time, so some facilities and transfers between them may appear with a delay.

When a person cannot be found, ICE points to the next step: contact the relevant ICE ERO (Enforcement and Removal Operations) field office, or, if the facility is known, contact it directly. What happens after an ICE arrest, how bond works, and how the removal process is structured are covered in the Detention & Deportation section.

What is an A-Number and where do I find it?

The A-Number (Alien Number) is an 8–9 digit registration number that may be assigned when someone applies for an immigration benefit, is placed in removal proceedings, or is taken into custody. It appears on letters from the immigration court and DHS, on USCIS receipts, on the work permit, and on the green card. Searching by A-Number with a date of birth is usually more accurate than searching by name.

Why doesn't the locator find a person?

Most often the reason is the exact-match rule: the name must be entered exactly as it appears in ICE's record, so a typo or a reversed first and last name returns nothing. Other reasons include a record that hasn't appeared yet (entry takes time after a detention), a person under 18, or a facility that updates with a delay. When a search returns nothing, ICE recommends contacting the ICE ERO field office.

Does the system show children?

No. People under 18 detained inside the country do not appear in the ODLS. If a child was detained with their parents, the adults are usually visible in the system, but the minors are not.

What languages is the locator available in?

Besides English, the ODLS and its brochure are available in several languages, including Spanish, French, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Somali, Chinese, Arabic, and Russian.