The ICE detainee locator stopped showing thousands of people with final removal orders, and that policy reached a federal court in Boston on October 28, 2026. At Campos Law Firm, we closely monitor developments in U.S. immigration policy to protect our clients’ rights and future. If you are looking for a relative in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody and they do not show up, this news affects you directly.
One point up front: filing a lawsuit does not pause the policy. Here is what we know, what we do not know yet, and what you can do.
What Changed in the ICE Detainee Locator?
For more than 16 years, the Online Detainee Locator System let families and attorneys find out which facility a person was held in. According to the lawsuit and the Associated Press (AP), in mid-September the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) removed people with final removal orders from that system and told staff not to disclose their location when relatives or lawyers ask.
AP reported that the change affected more than 16,000 of the nearly 69,000 people in ICE custody as of September. The lawsuit, as cited by The Boston Globe, puts the figure at more than 20,000. These are estimates from different dates and sources; the government has not published an official number or publicly confirmed the change.
What Does the Lawsuit Claim, and How Has the Government Responded?
The case is Greater Boston Legal Services et al. v. Mullin, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts (case number 26-14869, according to the National Immigration Law Center). It was brought by four legal aid organizations: Greater Boston Legal Services, Rian Immigrant Center, Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project, and Amica Center for Immigrant Rights.
The plaintiffs argue that the policy violates the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) because it is arbitrary and was adopted without explanation, the First Amendment because it keeps lawyers from advising their clients, and the Freedom of Information Act. They ask the court to set the policy aside and said they will seek to pause it while the case moves forward. “No one should be denied a meaningful opportunity to defend their rights,” said Jacquelynne Bowman, executive director of Greater Boston Legal Services.
DHS says detained people have “several ways to communicate” with family members and lawyers, and that for someone with a final deportation order, removal is the appropriate process. ICE has said it is prioritizing this group and has pointed to a “historic number of injunctions” blocking its deportations. Everything in the complaint is an allegation that a judge still has to review.
We covered it on the Campos Law Firm Instagram:
Does a Final Removal Order Mean Nothing Else Can Be Done?
Not necessarily. According to AP, about 1.4 million people in the U.S. have a final removal order, and many can still ask to reopen their case, seek protection from removal to a third country, or challenge violations of their rights. Those options often come with very short deadlines.
That is the risk the plaintiffs point to: if a lawyer does not know where a client is, they cannot file a motion or a habeas corpus petition in time, and the person could be deported before using the options they still have.
What Should You Do If Your Loved One Is Not in the Locator?
- Run the search again, carefully: on the official ICE locator, search with the nine-digit A-number and country of birth, or with first name, last name, date of birth, and country, spelled exactly as in ICE records (try with and without a second last name).
- Screenshot every search: write down the date, time, and details you used. That record shows the person was not listed and helps your attorney act.
- Call, and log every call: the ICE Detention Reporting and Information Line (DRIL) is 1-888-351-4024, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Note the number you called, the time, the name of the person you spoke with, and what they said. Do the same with the local Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) field office and your relative’s consulate.
- Check the court case status: the automated system of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), at 1-800-898-7180, lets you confirm with the A-number whether there is a removal order and its date.
- Gather key documents: the A-number, date and place of arrest, the last call you received, and any papers your relative signed. Get them to an attorney as soon as possible.
If your relative is detained and also has health problems, see our article on the ICE detention conditions lawsuit in Indiana, where we explain what to document.
Protect Your Rights with Campos Law Firm
Not knowing where a loved one is held is one of the most distressing situations an immigrant family can face, but acting quickly and keeping an organized record makes a difference. Every case is different, and we do not make unrealistic promises: we provide serious legal representation backed by preparation and integrity. Our team of immigration attorneys can help you locate your relative, review the case, and assess whether urgent remedies are available.
Do not leave your immigration status to chance. Call us today at +1 (844) 922-6767 to schedule a free, confidential consultation in English or Spanish. Campos Law Firm: Legal Solutions in All Areas of Law.
With information from AP, the ACLU, WBUR, The Boston Globe, and the National Immigration Law Center.
