Friends and Family Visits
Wednesday through Sunday between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m.
- Although we make every attempt to accommodate such visits they are subject to availability of the Visitation Room and the security requirements of the facility.
- Detainees are allotted one hour for visitation. More time may be authorized by the Assistant Warden for family members traveling significant distances dependent upon the number of visitors and staff availability. 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 must arrive 45 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 of detainees are authorized to visit their clients during the following hours:
Seven days a week , including holidays.
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
Imperial Regional Detention Facility (IRDF) is able to offer the Virtual Attorney Visitation (VAV) Program. Please note, the VAV Program does not substitute for in-person meetings, but it does provide an alternative for attorneys to communicate with clients. Legal representatives may request video teleconference (VTC) meetings with their clients or prospective clients by email at IRDF.VV@mtctrains.com. The IRDF 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 by dialing (760) 618-7200 ext. 111.
All appointments for VTC meetings should be made 24 hours prior to the desired appointment time. Appointments are scheduled 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are in 30 to 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. 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.
Please be advised that attorneys and their staff are not permitted to video or audio record during any virtual or on-site visit with detainees at the facility. Any violation of this rule may result in suspension or a permanent revocation of VAV user privileges.
Imperial Regional Detention Facility utilizes Socrates 360 to facilitate virtual legal visits and the electronic exchange of legal documents (to include the capability to sign documents). Please refer to the Socrates 360 user guide for Legal Representatives for more information on the processes for conducting virtual legal visits and exchanging legal documents electronically.
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 (760) 336-4601.
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.
