Use this link to locate your friend/family member if they have been detained by ICE: https://locator.ice.gov/odls/#/search. Search by either A# & country of birth, or use the person’s biographical information.

Once you locate your friend/family member contact the detention facility to schedule calls or visits. Some facilities allow for in-person visitation while others may provide for video-visitation only. You need to check to see what specific facilities allow.

1. Who does NOT have a right to a hearing?
The following people DO NOT have a right to a court hearing and may be deported without
going before a judge:
Outstanding removal orders: A judge already ordered someone removed because they
missed court, lost their immigration case or were not eligible for a court hearing. ICE can
remove them with the old removal order unless the noncitizen files a successful motion to
reopen their immigration case.
Prior deportations: ICE can remove people who were previously deported, including people
deported in expedited proceedings at the border, without the right to a court hearing.
Check for outstanding removal orders and prior deportations by an immigration judge on the
immigration court portal: https://acis.eoir.justice.gov/en/
Aggravated felony offenses: People who have been convicted of offenses which are
considered aggravated felonies under immigration law and who also do not have lawful
status may be removed from the US without a hearing.
For prior deportations and aggravated felony convictions, if someone expresses a fear of
returning to their country, they will have a Reasonable Fear Interview (RFI) with an Asylum
Officer. If they pass the RFI, then they will have hearings before an immigration judge to seek
protection based on their fear. If you are afraid, tell every immigration official you meet.
Expedited removal orders: Noncitizens who are apprehended at or near the border may be
removed by an expedited removal order. They only get a hearing if they express a fear of
returning to their country of origin and pass a Credible Fear Interview (CFI) with an Asylum
Officer.

All other noncitizens, including lawful permanent residents and individuals who are residing in the US but who are undocumented, WILL have the right to request a court hearing with an immigration judge to apply for relief from removal. 
Notice to Appear (NTA): ICE will serve noncitizens with a charging document that initiates
formal removal proceedings called a Notice to Appear (NTA). The hearing date on the NTA
is typically incorrect. The court will issue a new notice of hearing once the court processes
the NTA. If the noncitizen is detained, it will take 2-4 weeks for the court to schedule their
first court hearing. You should check the court portal for updates.
What to expect: A noncitizen will typically have several hearings as part of their removal
case. If you ask for more time to find an attorney, it is common for an immigration judge to
schedule you for a new hearing in 2-3 weeks to give you a chance to look. It is extremely
unlikely that someone will be removed at their first court hearing unless they specifically say
they want a removal order.

How to attend a hearing: If your loved one is scheduled for court in the Chicago
Immigration Court, visit the court’s website for information on how to attend
court: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/chicago-immigration-court. Detained hearings are usually
held by videoconference, and information on how to attend the hearings are
here: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/find-immigration-court-and-access-internet-based-
hearings

Not everyone has the right to have a bond hearing. Whether someone is eligible for bond
depends on their immigration and criminal history. For instance, noncitizens with outstanding
removal orders, prior deportations, and convictions for aggravated felonies as listed above, are
not eligible to be released on bond. Noncitizens with certain criminal convictions are subject to
mandatory detention which means an immigration judge cannot grant them a bond.
Other detained noncitizens in removal proceedings may have the right to request a bond hearing.
Because a person can usually only request one bond hearing, it is best to find an attorney to
request bond or at minimum to request more time at the initial court hearing to prepare letters of
support and other evidence for the bond hearing.
The resources at the end of this document include more advice on bond.

The immigration court system does not guarantee you a free lawyer if you cannot afford one.
Below are some tips for finding free or private lawyers who can help you.
If you do not have an immigration attorney or Board Accredited Representative, you or your
loved one should ask the immigration judge for time to find a representative. It can be difficult to
find someone with availability, so reach out to several offices at once.

Be careful of fraud. Notarios are not always lawyers in the United States and cannot necessarily
practice law or appear in immigration court. In addition, immigration law is complicated so find
a practitioner experienced in immigration law. Check with your local state bar association and
the list of currently disciplined immigration practitioners to make sure the representative is in
good standing: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/list-of-currently-disciplined-practitioners
Below is a list of resources for finding an attorney or representative. NIJC cannot guarantee that
any of the organizations listed on this sheet will be able to represent you, and NIJC is not
responsible for services rendered by these organizations.
National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC): If you are detained, or are calling about
someone in detention: Call the NIJC Detention Project at (773) 672-6599 on Tuesdays from
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Detained immigrants call collect at (312) 583-9721 or use the pro
bono platform and NIJC's 3-digit code, 565. immigrantjustice.org/contact-us
Midwest Immigrant Defenders Alliance (MIDA): MIDA provides free legal services to
eligible immigrants in detention through the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), The
Resurrection Project (TRP), The Immigration Project (TIP), and the Law Office of the Cook
County Public Defender (CCPD). If a MIDA representative is present the day of your first
hearing, you might have the opportunity to request a free representative, but MIDA
representation is not always available. https://immigrantjustice.org/midwest-immigrant-
defenders-alliance
ICIRR attorney referral list (Illinois): https://www.icirr.org/resources
Immigration Court’s list of free attorneys and
representatives: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/recognized-organizations-and-accredited-
representatives-roster-state-and-city
Immigrant Advocates directory: https://www.immigrationadvocates.org/legaldirectory/
American Immigration Lawyers Association directory: https://ailalawyer.com/

Additional resources for understanding your case
NIJC Know Your Rights Manual for People in Detention: https://immigrantjustice.org/know-
Your-Rights/Detained-Pro-Se-Manual
Other NIJC "Know Your Rights" resources: https://immigrantjustice.org/KnowYourRights
Immigration Court self-help materials: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/self-help-materials  
Community Justice Exchange guide to paying
bond: https://www.communityjusticeexchange.org/en/resources-all/cebondsguide

ACLU: What to Do When Interacting with ICE: 
https://www.aclu.org/we-have-rights