Friends and Family Visits
Female Detainee Classification
Females Level I and III: Daily, 7 a.m. - 9 a.m.
Females Level III (R): Daily, 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Male Detainee Classification
Males Level I and II: Daily, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Males High Level II and III: Daily, 3 pm - 4 p.m.
Males Level III (R): Daily, 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Males Level I and II (R): Daily, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
SMU-A: Daily, 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Beginning and ending times are subject to change depending upon the safe and orderly operation of the facility.
Consistent with current ICE Pandemic Response Requirements (PRR), STIPC will only have social visitation when the facility is in green status. Facility status can be relayed over the phone and a flyer is posted at all times outside the facility showing the weekly status.
- Detainees are allotted one hour for visitation. More time may be authorized by the Facility Administrator for family members traveling significant distances dependent upon the number of visitors and staff availability. Request forms are located inside dorms for detainees to make request. A maximum of two adults and two children may visit at any one time. This regulation will be interpreted flexibly and is subject to exceptions.
- To ensure adequate time to process visitors through security, all visitors should arrive 30 minutes prior to the scheduled visit time.
Adult visitors must present a valid, verifiable government-issued identification card to enter the facility.
Minors who are visiting the facility must be accompanied by an adult guardian (18 years or older). Minors must not be left unaccompanied in the waiting room, visiting room or any other area.
Attorney Visits
Legal representatives are authorized to visit their detained clients during the following hours:
7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily
All legal visitation is conducted in accordance with PBNDS 2011 Section 5.7 (V.J).
A list of pro bono (free) legal organizations, which is updated quarterly, is posted in all detainee housing units and other appropriate areas. If a detainee wishes to see a representative or paralegal from that organization, it is the detainee’s responsibility to contact them for an appointment.
Legal visitation can now be scheduled in advance through ERO eFile on a first come basis. Appointments are scheduled in increments of 30-minutes. Back to back appointments are permitted, but may not exceed 60 minutes. Walk-in visits are still permitted, however scheduled legal visits will be prioritized.
Video Teleconferencing
Legal representatives must request video teleconference (VTC) meetings or confidential legal phone calls with their clients or prospective clients through ERO eFile for all scheduled appointments. All scheduled appointments through ERO eFile will receive confirmation notifications through ERO eFile.
Please see the flyer for details.
All appointments through ERO eFile will include the:
- Legal representative’s full name
- Legal representative’s contact information, including phone number(s) and email address
- Detainee’s name
- Detainee’s alien number (otherwise a search may be done utilizing the detainee’s name, date of birth, and country of birth)
- In some situations, a legal representative may also be required to confirm the detention facility location of the detainee
Legal representatives should notate their Zoom meeting ID and the passcode in the Virtual Meeting Information section for the appointment in ERO eFile. (This is required before being able to select an available appointment time.)
Appointments will require the following attachments uploaded in ERO eFile (otherwise appointments may be subject to cancellation):
- A scan of the legal representative’s government issued identification
- A scan of the legal representative’s identification or documentation reflecting their status as an active legal representative, such as a state bar card, attorney license, paralegal license, or similar legal status
- A copy of the attorney’s ERO eFiled G-28 (unless this is a pre-representational visit)
- If a legal assistant is the only legal representative to join the call, the email should also attach a letter of authorization on the firm’s/organization’s letterhead and a scan of the assistant’s identification
- If a legal representative is making a request consistent with PBNDS 2011 Section 5.7 (V.N.1) and Section 4.3 (V.FF), the legal representative must upload the written request in the Attorney Authorization Letter field and the Professional Licensure/Curriculum Vitae to the Medical/Mental Health Evaluators field
Legal representative’s failure to abide by the Virtual Attorney Visitation guidelines may result in the immediate cancellation or termination of a VTC session and/or suspension of future requests.
Please note appointments may be scheduled up to 2 weeks in advance, but no later than 24 hours prior to the appointment. Appointments are on a first come basis. If scheduled appointments are no longer required, please cancel or reschedule the appointment in advance. Appointments are scheduled in 60-minute intervals. If you are only requiring a quick phone call with your client, we recommend not reserving a full 30-minute time slot, but instead have your client call you.
Legal representatives are not limited on the number of VTC appointments they can request, but no legal representative is permitted more than 2 hours in a single day. If a legal representative schedules more than 2 hours of appointments in a day, the visit may be subject to cancellation by the facility. Scheduling and applicable rules are subject to change pending demand and availability.
Please note the facility reserves the right to cancel or reschedule appointments in the event of safety/security risk at the facility and also to ensure equal access to legal visitation by other legal representatives and aliens.
The same guidelines for in-person attorney/client visits apply to VTC meetings and legal calls. Only legal representatives, legal assistants, and interpreters are allowed; no family or friends of the clients are permitted. The attorney and/or his/her agents may contact outside interpretation services during the call or session. The sessions are confidential; a visitation officer will be stationed outside of the confidential room to ensure security by standing out of earshot but within eyeshot. The officer will knock 5 minutes before the cut off time.
Appointments are subject to availability during the following times:
7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday
If there is no available time slot or if you have an exigent circumstance you may contact STIPCVAV@GEOGroup.com. Legal representatives may also call (830) 334-2939 for the court room officer responsible for scheduling with specific questions or scheduling appointments in exigent circumstances.
Electronic Exchange of Legal Documentation
When timely communication through the mail is not possible, the facility administrator may, in his discretion, allow for a reasonable amount of electronic written communication by means between the detained alien and their designated legal representative.
Faxes/Emails Sent by Legal Representatives to the Attention of Detained Aliens
Legal representatives can send legal correspondence to 213LOP@geogroup.com. Legal Representatives should make clear in the subject line that it is legal correspondence/mail and include as an attachment the specific documents/forms that the legal representative wants the facility to deliver to the detained alien. Within the email the legal representative should include the following information and a cover sheet for the attachment that includes the:
- Alien full name
- A-Number
- Sender’s return fax number
- Total number of pages sent
- Notate the correspondence is “Legal Mail”
The documents will be inspected for contraband, but not read. The legal mail will be delivered to the detainee. All legal electronic communication requests will be processed during normal business hours Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. excluding holidays.
Consular Visits
Consular officials may meet with their detained nationals at any time. It is requested that prior arrangements be made with the ICE Supervisory Deportation Officer to the extent possible, and that consular officials bring appropriate credentials when they come to the facility. The ICE Supervisory Deportation Officer for this facility can be reached at (210) 231-4505.
Clergy Visits
Clergy may visit detainees at any time, but must make prior arrangements with the Chaplain’s Office.
Visiting Restrictions
- All family or other social visits are non-contact.
- No firearms or weapons of any kind are permitted in the facility.
- If visitors are or appear to be intoxicated, visitation will not be allowed.
- All visitors are subject to search while in the facility.
- Visitors are not allowed to pass or attempt to pass any items to detainees.
- Visitors are not allowed to carry any items into the visitation area.
Search Procedures (prior to or during all visitations)
All individuals requesting admittance to the facility or the visitation area are subject to a pat-down search of their person, an inspection of their belongings, and a metal scan search. Individuals refusing to cooperate with a reasonable search will not be admitted. No firearms or weapons of any kind are permitted. No electronic devices (cell phones, pagers, radios, etc.) are permitted in the secure areas of this facility.