Folkston ICE Processing Center (Main)

If you need information about a detainee that is housed at this facility, you may call (912) 496-6905 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. When you call, please have the individual’s biographical information ready, including first, last and hyphenated names, any aliases he or she may use, date of birth and country of birth.

Detainees cannot receive incoming calls. If you need to get in touch with a detainee to leave an urgent message, you must call (912) 496-6905 and leave the detainee’s full name, alien registration number and your name and telephone number where you can be reached. The detainee will be given your message.

This facility has tablets. You can access information on how to send a non-confidential message at www.gettingout.com.

Immigration Court

For information about a matter before the immigration court, you may call 1-800-898-7180 to speak with them directly. Applications for relief from removal, and other applications requested by the immigration judge must be filed directly with the immigration court.

Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA)

For information about a matter before the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), you may call (703) 605-1007 where you can obtain automated information or speak with a live representative during office hours.

Click the link for a list of pro bono representatives nationwide who might be able to assist you.

To Post a Delivery Bond

Delivery bonds are posted when a person has been taken into ICE custody and placed into removal proceedings while in the United States. The person posting the bond must show proof of identity (valid Government-issued photo identification, passport, military ID, LPR card, driver’s license, etc.). This person (the obligor) is responsible for ensuring that the alien presents them self before an officer or representative of this agency whenever a request is made.

Bonds for aliens detained by ICE may be posted at ICE ERO bond acceptance offices nationwide, Monday through Friday (except public holidays) between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., local time. For a list of ICE ERO bond acceptance offices nearest you or for bond information, click here. You must have the last name of the detainee and alien registration number before calling. Acceptable forms of payment to post a bond are money orders, cashier’s checks or certified checks. For all bonds $10,000 and over, the only accepted method of payment is a single cashier or certified check. Payments must be made payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security” or “Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”

Sending Non-Confidential Messages to Detained Noncitizens

This facility has tablets. You can access information on how to send a non-confidential message at: www.gettingout.com.

Other Legal Access Related Communications

Requests for case information pertaining to noncitizens detained at the Folkston ICE Processing Center (Main) be sent to Folkston.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov. Please note that this mailbox does not accept applications for Stay of Removal or Case Appeals.

Contacting the Deportation Officer

To ascertain the identity of your client’s Deportation Officer, send your request to Folkston.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov. Please note that a G-28 must be on file for any information to be disclosed.

Submitting a G-28

G-28s filed on behalf of detained noncitizens at this facility can now be accepted through the online platform ERO eFile. Facility staff will not have access to ERO eFile at this time; legal representatives should download copies of their submitted G-28 for any in-person or remote legal visit.

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

• 11:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.

Low – Medium Low

• 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Restricted Housing Unit

• 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

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.

Letters sent to detainees must include the last four digits of the detainee’s A-number (Alien Number), plus the sender’s name and address. To enhance the safety of the facility, all incoming mail is subject to screening for contraband. The mail is not read upon opening, only inspected by the delivering officer. Detainees may send mail from the facility. Detainees may seal their outgoing letters and place them in the provided receptacle. All incoming mail will be delivered to the detainee, and outgoing mail will be routed to the proper postal office within 24 hours of receipt by facility staff. A mail pick-up and delivery schedule is posted in all housing units.

Detainees are allowed to purchase stamps for use. Generally, there is no limit to the amount of correspondence detainees may send at their own expense. Indigent detainees (those who have no means of financial support and no funds in their facility account) will be provided postage allowance at government expense.

When detainees depart the facility or are transferred to another facility, only their legal mail will be forwarded to them. General correspondence will be endorsed "Return to Sender" and returned to the post office.

Cash in possession of a detainee, at the time of his arrival to the facility, will be deposited/receipted to his trust account. Visitors may also deposit cash, only, at the facility, Monday through Friday – excluding holidays. All monies (cash, check, money order) arriving at the facility, via mail, will be returned to the sender. To deposit money to a detainee’s trust account, send money orders and cashier’s checks, only, to:

Folkston ICE Processing Center
Detainee’s full name and A-number
P.O. Box 248
Folkston, GA 31537

Note: Cashier’s check or money order must include the detainee’s full name and A-number.

A detainee may receive items that are determined to be of necessity for the sole purpose of travel or release from agency custody with approval of the ICE Deportation Officer. Before sending packages to detainees, contact the facility mail clerk at: (912) 496-6905, extension 76741

Note that detainees being removed from the United States are allowed one small piece of luggage. If a detainee does not have such baggage, such luggage can be sent/delivered after receiving approval from Supervisory Deportation Officer. Please be advised that for security reasons, no electronic devices (cell phones, electric razors, laptop computers, radios, etc.) will be accepted.

The facility has a responsibility to protect the privacy and other rights of detainees and members of the staff. Therefore, interviews will be regulated to ensure the orderly and safe operation of the facility. Ordinarily, live television or radio interviews will not be permitted in the facility. For media inquiries about ICE activities, operations, or policies, contact the ICE Office of Public Affairs at ICEMedia@ice.dhs.gov.

Personal Interviews

A news media representative who desires to conduct an interview with a detainee must apply in writing to the Atlanta Field Office, Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations, indicating familiarity with and agreement to comply with the rules and regulations of the facility as provided to that person by staff.

Detainee Consent

A detainee has the right not to be interviewed, photographed, or recorded by the media. Before interviewing, photographing, or recording the voice of a detainee, a visiting representative of the media must obtain written permission from that individual.

All FOIA and Privacy Act requests must be submitted on form G-639 (Freedom of Information / Privacy Act Request) or in letter format. All requests must contain the original, notarized signature of the subject in question. Please complete the form G-639 thoroughly and if writing a letter, be sure to include the full name, any other names used, date of birth, place of birth, A-number of the alien you are seeking information about, as well as your full name, address, and telephone number, so that we may contact you if we have any questions.

Mail your FOIA or Privacy Act request to:

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Freedom of Information Act Office
800 North Capitol Street, NW, Room 585
Washington, D.C. 20536
Phone – 1-866-633-1182
Email – ICE-FOIA@dhs.gov

We strive to provide quality service to people in our custody, their family, friends, and to their official representatives. If you believe that we have not lived up to this commitment, we would like to know. If we have met or exceeded your expectations, please let us know that as well. To comment on the services provided at this office, please write to:

Field Office Director, Enforcement and Removal Operations
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
180 Spring Street, SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

If you feel that an ICE employee or contract services employee mistreated you and wish to make a complaint of misconduct, you may:

Contact the Field Office Director at:

Field Office Director, Enforcement and Removal Operations
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
180 Spring Street, SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 893-1210

Write the Office of Professional Responsibility:

Director, Office of Professional Responsibility
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
500 12th Street, SW
Suite 1049
Mailstop 5099
Washington, DC 20536-5005

Contact the ICE OPR Integrity Coordination Center (ICC):

1-833-4ICE-OPR
ICEOPRIntake@ice.dhs.gov

You may also contact the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General:

DHS Office of Inspector General
Attn: Office of Investigations - Hotline
245 Murray Drive, Building 410 Stop: 2600
Washington, DC 20528
Call: 1-800-323-8603
​Fax: 202-254-4292
DHSOIGHOTLINE@DHS.GOV