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Can’t find your family member in ICE custody? You’re not alone. Since mid-September 2026, ICE quietly stopped showing where detainees with final removal orders actually are. They pulled this from the Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS) — the one tool families and attorneys have relied on for years. A new lawsuit, filed in Massachusetts, is trying to reverse that. This hits detained immigrants, their families, and the attorneys fighting for them — hard. If you’re searching for a loved one in ICE custody, or worried about a pending removal order, don’t wait. Talk to an immigration attorney now. Protect your rights — we handle the rest.
Background: What This Means
Here’s what happened. (cite index=”6-7″>The lawsuit challenges the so-called “Final Order Policy,” adopted around September 15 without public announcement or notification to detainees or their attorneys, which caused ICE to stop displaying the location of individuals with administratively final deportation orders on its online locator. This isn’t some small tweak. The ODLS has been around (cite index=”2-6″>since 2010, lawyers and family members have used ICE’s online system to track detainees as they get moved from facility to facility through ICE’s sprawling detention network. Families relied on it. Attorneys built cases around it. Now it’s gone dark for thousands of people.
The numbers tell the story. According to court filings, (cite index=”5-1,5-2″>as of mid-September, the complaint says, the Department of Homeland Security abruptly wiped the names of detainees with final removal orders from ICE’s online detainee locator, in accordance with a new internal directive. Approximately 30 percent of all ICE detainees — more than 20,000 people — have disappeared from the database, according to the lawsuit. Separate reporting backs this up — (cite index=”1-1″>as of last month, the move affected more than 16,000 of the nearly 69,000 detainees who were in ICE custody. Think about that. Thousands of families waking up every day with no idea where their loved one is being held.
The case was filed by immigrant legal aid groups. The case, registered as Greater Boston Legal Services et al. v. Mullin, number 1:26-cv-14869, was filed by Greater Boston Legal Services, Rian Immigrant Center, Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project, and Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, with the support of the National Immigration Law Center, the National Immigration Project, the ACLU, and the ACLU of Massachusetts. The plaintiffs argue that the lawsuit argues the change violates the Administrative Procedure Act because it was adopted without explanation and because of the First Amendment, which protects lawyers’ ability to advise people of their legal rights and seek prospective clients. The groups also allege that the Department of Homeland Security made the change without notifying the public, detained immigrants, or their attorneys. If any family members or lawyers of a detainee with a final removal order asks about their location, officials have been told not to share it, the complaint says.
DHS has defended the policy. In response to the lawsuit, “Illegal aliens in detention have several ways to communicate with their family members and lawyers,” DHS said in a statement responding to the lawsuit. “The appropriate process due to an illegal alien with final deportation orders is removal, plain and simple.” The agency has also pointed to court backlogs, noting that it was facing a “historic number of injunctions” barring some deportations.
How This Affects Detained Immigrants and Their Families
This policy change can create serious, real-world problems for people with pending immigration matters:
- Families cannot locate loved ones. If a relative is detained and has a final removal order, a search on the ODLS may no longer show which facility holds them.
- Attorneys may lose contact with clients. Immigration lawyers rely on ODLS to track clients who are transferred between facilities. Without this tool, lawyers may not learn in time that a client has been moved, potentially missing deadlines to file emergency motions, habeas petitions, or requests to reopen a case.
- People may be removed before they can get legal help. If a removal order is later challenged, or if someone has a pending motion to reopen, losing track of their location can mean losing the chance to stop a deportation in time.
- Confusion for people who believe their case is still open. Some individuals may not realize their order has become “final,” and their families may be caught off guard when they can no longer find them in the system.
If you or a family member are facing a final removal order, or if ICE custody status is unclear, understanding your options for removal defense and immigration court proceedings is an important first step, including whether a motion to reopen, a stay of removal, or a habeas corpus petition may be available.
What You Should Do Now
If you are trying to locate a detained family member or are concerned about an ICE custody situation, consider these steps:
- Try the official ODLS first. Search by A-Number and country of birth, or by full name, date of birth, and country of birth, at the official government site. Be aware that results may not show if the person has a final removal order.
- Contact the local ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) field office. If the online system does not return results, the regional ERO office may be able to confirm custody status.
- Keep records of the last known facility and any communication. Save any letters, phone numbers, or facility names the detainee has shared with you.
- Check for a pending motion to reopen or appeal. A removal order that is being challenged in federal court may qualify for a stay, which can affect timing.
- Consult an immigration attorney promptly. An attorney may be able to request custody information directly from DHS, file an emergency motion, or pursue other legal options if time is limited.
- Do not ignore a Notice to Appear or prior removal order. If a family member has an older immigration case, options like family-based immigration petitions may still be relevant depending on individual circumstances.
How TEZ Law Firm Can Help
TEZ Law Firm assists clients with removal defense matters, including helping families try to locate detained relatives, evaluating options such as motions to reopen or stays of removal, and communicating with ICE and immigration courts on a client’s behalf. The firm also handles related immigration matters, including family-based and employment-based immigration cases, for clients across the United States. Attorneys can review the facts of a specific case and explain the options that may be available under current law.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ICE Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS)?
The ODLS is a public tool that lets family members, attorneys, and the public search for people detained by ICE using an A-Number or biographical information such as name, date of birth, and country of birth. It generally shows the facility where a person is held and contact information for the responsible ICE field office.
Why can’t I find my family member in the ODLS anymore?
According to the lawsuit described above, ICE has stopped showing location information for detainees who have final removal orders. This means a search may not return results even if the person is still in ICE custody. This policy is the subject of ongoing litigation as of October 29, 2026.
What is a “final removal order”?
A final removal order is a legal decision that a person must leave the United States, and it is no longer subject to an active appeal within the normal administrative process. Having a final order does not always mean every legal option is closed, since some cases may still qualify for a motion to reopen or a stay.
Can a lawyer still find out where a detainee is being held?
An attorney who has already entered an appearance in a case may be able to obtain information directly from ICE or the immigration court. If you are not yet represented, consulting an attorney promptly may help you explore what information-gathering steps are available.
Does this lawsuit stop ICE from hiding detainee locations right now?
The lawsuit was recently filed and asks a federal court to block the policy, but as of October 29, 2026, the court has not yet ruled. Families and attorneys should continue trying available channels, including direct contact with ICE field offices, while the case proceeds.
If you are trying to locate a detained family member, are facing a final removal order, or have questions about removal defense options, TEZ Law Firm can help you understand the process and the choices available to you. Schedule a consultation with TEZ Law Firm to discuss your situation.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration law changes frequently, and outcomes depend on the specific facts of each case. JJ Zhang (California Bar #326666) is the managing attorney at TEZ Law Firm.
This article is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws and agency practices change; contact TEZ Law Firm (West Covina, California) at 626-888-6856 or [email protected] about your situation. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.