Friends and Family Visits
Visitation is allowed seven days a week during the following hours:
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Visitors must present a valid verifiable government-issued identification card to enter the facility.
Visits shall not exceed one hour. Extended visits must be pre-approved by the Facility Administrator or his designee.
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:
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 12 p.m. to 4 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 with their clients or prospective clients by email at RichwoodCDPO@lasallecorrections.com. Richwood facility staff 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), and email address
- 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 (318) 325-8409. Richwood facility staff will coordinate with the attorney and send a link via email for the scheduled virtual legal visit on Zoom.
All appointments for VTC meetings or phone calls should be made 24 hours prior to the desired appointment time. Appointments are scheduled from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Central Time) Monday through Friday and from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. (Central Time) on weekends and holidays 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.
Please be advised that legal representatives and their staff are not permitted to video or audio record during any virtual or in-person visit or any call with non-citizens at the facility. Any violation of these rules may result in suspension or a permanent revocation of VAV user privileges.
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 non-citizen and their designated legal representative.
Faxes/Emails sent by Legal Representatives to the attention of Detained Non-citizens
Legal representatives can send legal correspondence to the following fax numbers: (318) 998-5808 or (318) 998-5810, or emailed during virtual legal visits via outlook.live.com. Please note that a link for the virtual legal visit must be already established to send over documents via the outlook.live.com address.
Please note that legal representative should include a cover letter that includes the following:
- Non-citizen Full Name
- A-Number
- Sender’s Return Fax Number
- Total number of pages sent
- Notate the correspondence is “Legal Mail”
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 (318) 998-5800 ext. 201.
Clergy Visits
Clergy may visit detainees at any time but must make prior arrangements with the Chaplain’s Office at (318) 325-8409 ext. 133.
Visiting Restrictions
- 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.
- •No electronic devices are permitted in the facility.
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.