ICE Stops Listing Some Detainees in Public Locator

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement stopped listing detainees with final removal orders in its online locator beginning September 15, a change that attorneys say has made it harder to find clients and pursue legal challenges. The agency has not confirmed or denied the reported policy, and the number of people affected is not established. Three current and former ICE officials told the Associated Press that the agency removed the detainees from the public database. Lawyers also reported that clients with final orders had disappeared from the system, and the American Immigration Lawyers Association alerted members to the change. ICE said detainees with final removal orders were being prioritized for deportation and that people in custody have access to phones, but did not confirm or deny the change itself. The policy applies to people whose removal orders have become final, but a final order does not necessarily mean deportation is immediate. Detainees may seek to reopen their cases or file habeas petitions challenging their detention.