If you were detained by ICE, who would immediately be able to go to work from the outside in order to help free you, submit legal paperwork for you, or post bond money (money to get out of jail)?
ICE detention involves legal processes so you will need a lawyer to work to get you out. These are some steps you can take in advance so that your lawyer can work faster and more effectively.
First, collect information and documents that could help your lawyer:
Immigration documents:
Your A- Alien # (if any)
How, when and where you entered the US, and if you have a visa, and what your visa type is (if applicable)
Whether you have been in an immigration court, and if you have been previously arrested at the US border
If a “Petition for Alien Relative” was submitted to them before 30 April 2001
If a “Labor Certification” was submitted before 30 April 2001
If you have any criminal record or previous deportation, collect all the documents from those cases.
Next, choose a "trusted helper" that can hold the documents in a safe place. Share the following with them:
Give them the information and documents you collected.
Write the name and phone number of an attorney that they should contact for you, if you are detained by ICE. If you or your trusted helper need help finding an attorney, contact one of the groups listed on the First things first page.
Also ask your trusted helper to try to gather or save any information from the ICE raid itself for the attorney, such as which facility you were sent to.
Online ICE Detainee Locator System: https://locator.ice.gov/odls/#/search
ICE detention facilities: https://www.ice.gov/detention-facilities
Rockingham County Jail: (540) 564-3850
Finally, prepare yourself to call your attorney from inside ICE detention. Unfortunately, all personal belongings including belts, shoelaces, identification, passports, photographs, religious texts, medication, and more, will be confiscated. Detainees do not have access to their cell phones.
So, you will likely need to memorize the contact information for your "trusted helper" or your attorney (or both).
Most detention centers do provide tablets for video calls and limited social media access, but you must pay for these services (from the account that your trusted helper should open at the detention facility). Collect calls are allowed via payphones.
Be aware that people in ICE detention do not have a constitutional right to a lawyer. This means IF you want an attorney to help you in detention, you will need to arrange beforehand yourself, or your trusted helper will need to arrange it once you are detained.
Be aware that if a judge or officer in your case ends up setting a bond payment for your release or removal, it will need to be paid by a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, law firm, or nonprofit organization that is lawfully present in the United States.
Organizations that may be able to assist with bond cases:
Legal Aid Justice Center (LAJC) [https://www.justice4all.org/] (Charlottesville, VA)
Phone: (434) 977-0553
International: 1-800-269-4717 (In Mexico, dial 001 first)
Do not sign any documents that you do not completely understand. If you are in ICE custody, do not sign anything without consulting with an attorney!
Next: Help for Dependents