Friends and Family Visits
Detainee visitation is scheduled for Saturdays, Sundays and federal holidays.
Visitation for Medium High to High classification detainees is:
- Saturdays: 11:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
- Sundays: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Visitation for Low to Medium Low classification detainees is:
- Saturdays: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- Sundays: 11:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
Visitation for the Restricted Housing unit is:
- Low-Medium 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday)
- Medium High - High 3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday)
Holiday Schedule will be as follows:
Medium High – High
Low – Medium Low
Restricted Housing Unit
To ensure adequate time to process visitors through security, all visitors must arrive 15 minutes prior to their intended visit.
Visitors must present a valid verifiable government-issued identification card to enter the facility.
Visits shall be a minimum of 1 hour.
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 of detainees are authorized to visit their clients during the following hours:
- Seven days a week, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
A list of pro bono (free) legal organizations will be posted in all detainee housing units and other appropriate areas. This list shall be updated quarterly. 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.
Video Teleconferencing
Legal representatives may request video teleconference (VTC) meetings or confidential legal phone calls with their clients or prospective clients by email at GA231Court@geogroup.com. The FIPC court officers will email back with a confirmed date and time. Please see the flyer for details.
The email should include:
- Legal representative’s full name
- Legal representative’s contact information, including phone number(s), email address, and Skype ID
- Detainee’s name
- Detainee’s alien number
- A few proposed times/dates for the requested VTC session
- 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 scan of the attorney’s DHS Form G-28 (unless this is a pre-representational)
- 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.
Legal representatives may also schedule VTC meetings or calls by dialing (912) 496-6771 for the court room officer responsible for scheduling.
All appointments for VTC meetings or phone calls should be made 24 hours prior to the desired appointment time. Appointments are scheduled 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are in 60-minute increments. Legal representatives are not limited on the number of VTC appointments they can request, but no legal representative is permitted more than one 60-minute appointment with a detainee in a single day.
The same guidelines for in-person attorney/client visits will apply to VTC meetings and legal calls. Only legal representatives, legal assistants, and interpreters will be 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 will be 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.
Faxing Legal Documents
When timely communication through the mail is not possible, the facility administrator may, in his discretion, allow for a reasonable amount of communication by means of facsimile device between the detainee and their designated legal representative.
Faxes sent by Detainees to Legal Representatives
Detainees can send all electronic communication requests to their assigned case manager via the facility tablet. The case manager will then schedule the detainee to report to the court room with the following information: the name of the legal representative, the name of the Law Firm (if applicable), the Law Firm’s (or legal representative’s) address, and office telephone and fax numbers. The detainee will complete a fax cover sheet provided at the time of transmission. The court room officer will fax the documents in the presence of the detainee and return the original documents to the detainee. The court room officer will inspect the outgoing documents for contraband in the presence of the detainee; the documents will not be read. After transmission, facility staff will return the documents and provide the fax confirmation to the detainee.
Faxes sent by Legal Representatives to Detainees
Legal representatives can send legal correspondence to the following fax number: (912) 496-6299.
The legal representative must include a cover letter that includes the following:
- Detainee Full Name
- Detainee Alien Number
- Sender’s Return Fax Number
- Total number of pages sent.
The fax will be delivered to the detainee in a sealed envelope with detainee name and A#. The documents will be inspected for contraband, but not read. The legal mail will be delivered to the detainee.
All legal faxes sent and received through the court room will be treated as confidential legal correspondence and will be documented in a logbook and processed by the court officer. All facsimile legal electronic communication requests will be processed during normal business hours Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. excluding holidays. The transmission verification report which indicates that the fax was successfully sent will be maintained and filed by court room staff and a copy provided to the detainee.
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 in charge of the facility can be reached at (912) 496-6905.
Clergy Visits
Clergy must make prior arrangements with the Chaplain’s Office by calling (912) 496-6905. They are authorized to visit detainees during the following hours:
- Mondays through Fridays: 5 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
- Saturdays and Sundays: 5 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
Visiting Restrictions
- The facility maintains a dress code for visitors.
- 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 permitted to bring up to $20 in the form of $1 bills or coins.
- Visitors are not allowed to carry any items into the visitation area, with the exception of necessary infant care items.
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.
