The South Texas Detention Facility (STDF) in Pearsall, Texas, holds a significant place in the United States' immigration and customs enforcement system. Since its establishment in 2005, this detention complex, managed by a private corporation, The GEO Group, has played a vital role in housing individuals facing immigration difficulties. It's a multi-level security facility with the capacity to hold up to 1,900 detainees from various countries, including Mexico, Cuba, Venezuela, India, and more. This article delves into the intricacies of the South Texas Detention Facility, its operations, visitor policies, and its broader significance.
## Facility Overview
The South Texas Detention Facility is a key player in the United States' immigration enforcement system. It opened its doors in 2005 under the management of The GEO Group, a private corporation. This facility primarily detains noncitizens who are confronted with immigration issues, whether they were detained at the border trying to enter the nation illegally or were found residing in the country without the appropriate documentation.
Immigration laws and procedures can be complex and intimidating. Therefore, individuals detained at the STDF are strongly advised to seek the counsel of an expert immigration attorney. An experienced attorney can help them understand their rights and navigate the complex legal landscape.
## Facility Operations
The STDF operates under the Performance-Based National Detention Standards (PBNDS) 2011 (Revised 2016), ensuring that detainees are held in accordance with established guidelines. This includes having deportation officers assigned to the facility, with the daily operations managed by the STDF warden and supported by dedicated personnel.
Here are some key roles in the facility's operations:
- **ERO (Enforcement and Removal Operations):** This is the ICE office responsible for housing detainees at the STDF under the oversight of ERO San Antonio, the Field Office Director in San Antonio.
- **Service Providers:** The GEO Group provides food services, STG International is responsible for medical care, and Keefe offers commissary services.
The South Texas Detention Facility boasts several accreditations, including accreditation by the American Correctional Association in December 2019 and accreditation by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care in February 2018.
## Facility Capacity and Population
Understanding the capacity and population of the STDF is essential to grasp its significance. Here are some key statistics as at August 2020:
- **ICE Detainee Bed Capacity:** 1,890
- **Average ICE Detainee Population:** 1,135
- **Male Detainee Population (as of 8/24/2020):** 462
- **Female Detainee Population (as of 8/24/2020):** N/A
The GEO Group, Inc. owns and operates the South Texas Detention Complex, as part of a contract with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
## Contact Information
If you need to get in touch with the South Texas Detention Facility, you can use the following contact information:
- **Address:** 566 Veteran’s Drive, Pearsall, TX 78061
- **Main Phone:** (830) 334-2939
- **Field Office:** (210) 283-4750
## Visitation Policies
Visitation is an essential aspect of life for detainees at the STDF. It allows them to maintain connections with family and friends, and even legal representatives. Here are some key points regarding visitation:
- **Visiting Hours:** Visitors can come to the facility between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., seven days a week. However, specific visitation times vary based on detainee classification. For example, Level 1 & 2 Females have visitation from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., while Level 3 Males can be visited from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- **Attorney Visits:** Attorneys and paralegals can visit detainees every day of the year but must schedule appointments between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.
The facility maintains a dress code for visitors, with specific guidelines for both males and females. It's essential to adhere to these policies to ensure successful visitation.
## Inmate Locator
If you have a loved one at the South Texas Detention Facility and wish to locate them, you have a few options. The ICE website provides an Inmate Locator search engine that can help you find information about their location. You can also call (210) 231-4505 with the detainee's full name, date of birth, and country of birth to check their status.
## Delivery Bond
Some detainees at the South Texas Detention Complex may be eligible for a delivery bond, which allows them to be released before appearing in front of an immigration judge. If you decide to post a delivery bond on behalf of a detainee, you'll need to show a legitimate form of identification, such as a government-issued ID.
It's crucial to understand the responsibility that comes with posting a bond, as you'll be guaranteeing that the detainee appears in front of an officer, representative, or judge when required. The ICE ERO bond acceptance office in Texas handles bond processing. They are open from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
## Communication with Inmates
Detainees in this facility cannot receive incoming calls. However, if you need to leave an urgent message for a detainee, you can call (830) 334-2939 and provide their full name, alien registration number, your name, and phone number.
To receive information about a detainee housed at the facility, call (210) 231-4505 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. You'll need to provide the detainee's full name, date of birth, and country of birth.
## Sending Money to Inmates
If you want to send money to a detainee at the South Texas Detention Complex, you can do so by mailing a money order or cashier's check directly to the detainee. It's important not to send cash. Provide the last four digits of the detainee's A-number (file number) and your name and address. For more details on sending items to detainees, you can visit the South Texas ICE Processing Center website.
## Resource Links
It's important to have access to relevant resources when dealing with immigration matters. The Pearsall immigration court is a key resource. This page provides details such as the court's address, statistics, contact number, and operating hours. It's where relief from deportation applications and other applications required by the immigration judge are submitted.
The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) is another significant body for interpreting and applying immigration laws. If you wish to dispute an immigration judgment, you can find more information on how to request that your case be heard on their website.
## Accreditation and Scholarships
The South Texas Detention Complex has received initial accreditation through the American Correctional Association (ACA) in 2008 and re-accreditation in 2011 and 2014, achieving a score of 98.80%.
As a part of its commitment to the community, the facility provides $17,000 annually in scholarships, contributing to education and advancement.
## Accessibility and Special Needs
The South Texas Detention Complex takes its commitment to accessibility seriously. It does not discriminate based on disability and provides detainees with disability-related accommodations as needed to access its
programs and activities. Free public parking is available at the facility, with designated visitor parking areas. The facility ensures that individuals with special needs are provided with the necessary accommodations.
## Conclusion
The South Texas Detention Facility serves as a significant institution in the immigration enforcement system. It plays a vital role in detaining individuals facing immigration issues, and its operations are governed by strict standards and regulations. Understanding the facility's capacity, population, and visitor policies is essential for those with loved ones housed at the STDF. It's important to have access to the right resources and support when navigating the complexities of immigration law.
Whether you're an attorney, a family member, or a friend of a detainee, knowing how to communicate and support detainees is critical. The South Texas Detention Facility aims to ensure that detainees receive the necessary care and support, while also upholding high standards of accreditation.
In a society where immigration laws can be intricate and challenging, the STDF plays a crucial role in maintaining order and ensuring that individuals facing immigration issues have access to the resources and support they need.
---
**FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)**
1. **What are the visiting hours at the South Texas Detention Facility?**
- Visiting hours at the STDF are from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week. Specific visitation times vary based on detainee classification.
2. **How can I locate an inmate at the South Texas Detention Complex?**
- You can use the ICE website's Inmate Locator search engine or call (210) 231-4505 with the detainee's full name, date of birth, and country of birth to check their status.
3. **How do I post a delivery bond at the South Texas Detention Complex?**
- To post a delivery bond, you need to show a legitimate form of identification, such as a government-issued ID, on behalf of the inmate. The ICE ERO bond acceptance office in Texas handles bond processing.
4. **Can I call an inmate at the South Texas Detention Facility?**
- Detainees in this facility cannot receive incoming calls. If you need to leave a message for a detainee, you can call (830) 334-2939 and provide the required information.
5. **How can I send money to an inmate at the South Texas Detention Complex?**
- You can send money to a detainee by mailing a money order or cashier's check directly to them. Do not send cash, and provide the last four digits of the detainee's A-number and your name and address. For more information, visit the South Texas ICE Processing Center website.
Phone: 830-378-6500
Physical Address:
South Texas Detention Facility
1925 West Highway 85
Dilley, TX 78017
Mailing Address (personal mail):
Inmate's Full Name & A-Number
South Texas Detention Facility
1925 West Highway 85
Dilley, TX 78017
Other Jails and Prisons
When someone that is not a US Citizen gets arrested in the United States, and they are here illegally, depending on what state or city they are arrested in, the person may be turned over to ICE.
Many states such as New York and California, as well as hundreds of US cities, have declared themselves 'sanctuary cities' and do not turn over foreigners here illegally, even if they are committing crimes in their jurisdiction.
However, when an alien here illegally is turned over to ICE, and sent to one of the over 100 Immigration Detention Centers in the United States, the only way to try and locate where they are being detained is using the Online Detainee Locator System.
You can look them up using their assigned A-Number.
You can also try and look them up by using their name.
What is an ICE Detention Center?
Men, women, and children that are in the United States illegally and are apprehended by the US Border Patrol or ICE will most likely be placed in removal proceedings and may be detained in one of the more than 200 jails and detention centers that make up ICE’s detention system.
Many of the illegal immigrants that are detained are held in county and local jails that contract with ICE to detain immigrants. The rest are held in dedicated immigration detention facilities run by ICE or contracted to private prison corporations, including family detention centers that hold mothers and children.
What Determines if an Illegal Immigrant gets Detained?
ICE will typically detain an immigrant because DHS (Homeland Security) believes that an illegal immigrant is either a “flight risk” and may move to another location within the U.S. or that they pose a public safety threat. Detaining the person allows the government to guarantee that the person will show up for their hearing before an Immigration Court.
Some of the reasons that causes an illegal immigrant to get arrested and held in detention prior to their day in court is as follows:
The illegal immigrant has:
How do you find someone that is in an ICE Detention Center?
The first step to finding out if an illegal immigrant is in ICE or DHS custody is by using the ICE Detainee Locator.
It’s easier to find the person if you have an Alien Number (A#), if one exists. A green card or work permit will show this number. If you don’t have an A# the person is much more difficult to locate.
The information you will need is as follows:
If you are having difficulty, try different spellings and the order of how the name is listed.
If the illegal immigrant was only recently detained, the ICE Detainee Locator may not be updated with the latest information. Keep in mind that ICE does not give information (online or over the phone) for people under 18 years of age. In such cases, you can only get information on them from the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations field office nearest you.
If the person you are looking for is not in an ICE Detention Center, they may have been taken to a local jail that contracts with ICE, so contact their local City and County Jail, all which can be found here.
Another option, short of the expense of hiring an Immigration Lawyer, is to go to this website and use their online form to get their help.
Once an illegal immigrant is located and you find out the facility where they are being held you need to find out the Deportation Officer that has been assigned to their case. The Officer can tell you how to call or visit the detainee, or pay for the detainee to be able to call you, or how you can send any needed items such as clothing, prescriptions, etc.
The last option, and the most expensive, is to hire an experienced immigration attorney to assist you in tracking down the Deportation Officer. If the person being detained requires specific medical care, an attorney can ensure that they receive that care.
If the detained illegal immigrant has been deported from America previously or has an outstanding removal order - in which case they have no right to see an immigration judge - they can be removed within a few days, or even hours, of the initial arrest.
Even if the government does not immediately remove the person, it is possible that they can be moved around to different Detention Centers. There is never a warning that a person is being moved around and during the transfer there is a complete blackout of any information.
How long are people held in ICE Immigration Detention Centers?
The time that an illegal immigrant is held in an ICE Detention Center can vary. It all depends on several factors such as the individual’s personal situation, criminal record, the severity of the crime they are being charged with, previous deportations and the current caseload that the Detention Center is dealing with.
This image portrays the most recent data available on the time a detained illegal immigrant remains in custody before their release and/or deportation.
Can you visit someone in ICE Detention Centers?
The short answer is yes. The person visiting an illegal immigrant in an ICE Detention Center must be lawfully present in the United States. In other words the visitor must have some form of currently valid immigration status at the time of the visit. A detention center or jail will not allow the visit unless visitor can show valid I.D. and offer proof that they are lawfully in the United States.
If you want to become a volunteer that visits illegal immigrants in order to offer emotional support, it may be possible. You can join one of these visitation networks by going here and contacting the network in your area.
What crimes can cause an illegal immigrant to be deported?
(The following information comes from Nolo.com, a trusted legal resource)
These are the straightforward crimes that are mentioned in the immigration law. The statute also lists a number of security violations, such as involvement in espionage, sabotage, terrorism, Nazi persecution, totalitarian parties, and so forth.
Once an illegal immigrant is deported, how long before they can come back to the United States?
If an illegal immigrant has a deportation or removal order in their immigration file, it's possible that they won’t be allowed to enter the U.S. for five, ten, or even 20 years.
The applicable law comes from Section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (I.N.A.).
Five-Year Ban: If they were summarily removed or deported upon arrival at a U.S. port of entry because they were found inadmissible, or if they came to the U.S. but were immediately put into removal proceedings and then removed or deported, they may be ineligible to return to the U.S. for five years. The five-year ban also applies if they failed to show up for their removal hearing in the United States.
Ten-Year Ban: If a ‘removal order’ was issued at the conclusion of their removal hearing in Immigration Court, they may not be able to return for ten years after their removal or departure.
Twenty-Year Ban: If they were convicted of an aggravated felony or have received more than one order of removal, they are barred from returning to the U.S. for 20 years. And if they entered without permission after having been removed, or illegally reentered the U.S. after having previously been in the U.S. unlawfully for more than one year, they may be barred from entering the United States for 20 years or permanently.
This facility, known as "South Texas Detention Facility" is also known as ICE Detention Facility, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
