Karnes County Immigration Processing Center

If you need information about a detainee housed at this facility, you may call (830) 254-2000 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday-Sunday. When you call, please have the individual’s biographical information ready, including first, last and hyphenated names, any aliases he or she may use, as well as their 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 (830) 254-2000 and leave the detainee’s full name, alien registration number as well as your name and a 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 Karnes County Immigration Processing Center be sent to SNALegalAcess-Karnes@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, contact the San Antonio Field Office and/or Karnes County Immigration Processing Center to obtain that information at (830) 254-2500. 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

Visitation hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Beginning and ending times are subject to change depending upon the safe and orderly operation of the facility.

Female Visitation: Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday only
Male Visitation: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday only

To ensure adequate time to process visitors through security, all visitors must arrive 30 minutes prior to completion of visitation.

Visits shall be based on the maximum occupancy in the visitation area and are generally limited to 1 hour a week, depending on the number of visitors.

Adult guardians (18 years or older) must accompany minors who are visiting the facility. Minors must not be 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 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

A list of pro bono (free) legal organizations is posted in all detainee housing units and other appropriate areas. This list is 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.

Virtual Attorney Visits

Legal representatives may request Virtual Attorney Visits (VAV) meetings via Zoom or confidential legal phone calls with their clients or prospective clients by email at kccdc-bailiff@geogroup.com and SNALegalAccess-Karnes@ice.dhs.gov. A Karnes County Immigration Processing Center (Karnes) staff member will email back with a confirmed date and time. Please see the VAV flyer for details.

The email should include:

• Legal representative’s full name
• Legal representative’s contact information, including phone number(s), email address, and Zoom ID
• Detained noncitizen’s name
• Detained noncitizen’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.

Karnes can accommodate most attorney visitation requests, attorney legal calls, and virtual attorney visitation requests, especially when exigent circumstances exist, without 24-hour notice. It is highly recommended, that legal representatives schedule 24 hours prior to the desired appointment time. GEO staff schedules visitation appointments from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and are in 30 to 60-minute increments. Facility staff does not limit legal representatives on the number of VAV appointments they can request, but no legal representative may have 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 VAV meetings and legal calls. Only legal representatives, legal assistants, and interpreters are allowed; family or friends of the clients are not permitted during the VAV meeting. 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 is stationed outside of the confidential room to ensure safety and security but will be 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 between the legal representative and their detained noncitizen client.

For faxes sent by legal representatives to detainees:

Legal representatives may use the visitation fax number (830) 254-2292 to receive and transmit legal paperwork.

Legal representatives transmitting documents must include a cover sheet containing the name of sender, the name of the Law Office, the address, the name and identification number of the detained noncitizen, the number of pages and the date.

GEO staff will place incoming faxes in an envelope with the detainee's name and A# written on the outside. An ICE designee at the facility will hand deliver the faxed documents to the detainee. Facility staff will inspect the incoming documents for contraband in the presence of the detainee. GEO staff will not read the documents.

For faxes sent by detainees to legal representatives

Karnes has placed a fax machine in visitation for detainees to exchange legal documentation with their attorneys. Detainees can notify any staff member verbally or submit a written request to use the fax machine. Staff will send the fax with the detainee present as detainees are generally unfamiliar with the technology and/or fax machine.

Consular Visits

Consular officials may meet with their detained nationals at any time. ICE requests that prior arrangements are made with the ICE Supervisory Detention and Deportation Officer to the extent possible, and that consular officials bring appropriate credentials when they come to the facility. The ICE Supervisory Detention and Deportation Officer in charge of the facility contact number is (830) 254-2500.

Clergy Visits

Clergy may visit detainees at any time but must make prior arrangements with the chaplain’s office at (830) 254-2000.

Visiting Restrictions

Visit sessions will normally be a minimum of one hour a week depending upon the number of visitors and staff availability. The duty facility administrator may authorize more time for family members traveling significant distances. Any disruptive behavior by either party will result in the termination of the visit and the facility administrator can deny future visits because of the disruptive behavior. If visitor(s) bring children (17 years of age or younger) the children are expected to be under direct supervision of the accompanying adult, preventing a disruption of visits by other visitors. The facility does not allow visitors to carry personal items into the visiting area. The facility has provided lockers to secure personal items.

• The number of visitors (adult and children) allowed to visit is limited to the space availability and/or to the discretion of the facility administrator.
• GEO security staff will search all visitors and any articles in their possession before and after entering the facility. The facility administrator or designee must give permission for items brought into the facility those items are limited to one complete set of clothing and a bag to carry them in, unless the facility administrator or designee has provided prior written authorization to the visitor.
• Any unruly or socially inappropriate behavior by either party will end the visit and may have an adverse effect on future visitation.
• Visitors who bring children (17 or younger) must closely supervise them so as not to disturb others.
• Visitors are responsible for their own transportation to and from the facility.
• The facility administrator prohibits the use of profanity, making loud noises, disturbing other detainees or visitors, creating a mess or otherwise being a nuisance in the visitation area.
• The visitor and detainee will not exchange items or property during the visit. The visitor will initiate all transactions with the front lobby officer only, who in turn will inventory and provide a receipt for the item(s). The front lobby officer will not accept cash, cashier’s checks from U.S. Banks, and checks from U.S. federal/state entities. The kiosk will be available in the front lobby during the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and accept cash, debit cards and credit cards. Visitors may bring coin money and/or one (1) credit card into the visitation area for the vending machines. Visitors cannot bring dollar bills into the visitation area. No outside food permitted beyond the metal detector.

Visitor Dress Code

Female Visitors Aged 5 and Older

• Shorts will cover customarily covered areas of the anatomy, including the buttocks and crotch area, both when standing and sitting. Shorts no higher than mid-thigh complies. The facility dress code policy prohibits short shorts, jogging shorts, cut-offs, and other obviously inappropriate short garments.
• Skirts and dresses will extend to mid-thigh, seated.
• Slits in skirts and dresses will rise no higher than mid-thigh, seated.
• The facility prohibits Sheer (see-through) clothing.
• The top of shirts and dresses (excluding straps) will be no lower than the underarm in the front and back.
• The facility prohibits bare midriffs, strapless tops, tube tops, and swimsuits.
• Shoes will be always worn. The facility does not allow visitors to wear flip flops in the facility, Visitors can wear open toe shoes.
• The facility dress code policy prohibits gang “colors” and other gang displays.

Male Visitors Aged 5 and Older

• Shorts will cover customarily covered areas of the anatomy, including the buttocks and crotch area, both when standing and sitting. Shorts no higher than mid-thigh complies. Short shorts, jogging shorts, cut-offs, and other obviously inappropriate short garments are prohibited.
• Shirts will be always worn. The facility administrator has prohibited muscle shirts, bare midriff shirts, and sleeveless shirts in the facility.
• Shoes will be always worn. The facility administrator allows open toe shoes (but no flip flops) in the facility.
• The facility administrator has prohibited Gang “colors” and other gang displays 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 in the facility. No electronic devices (cell phones, pagers, radios, etc.) are permitted in the secure areas of this facility.

COVID Visitation

There are no restrictions on visitation in green status.

Under red status:

• The facility must provide a facial covering to any visitor who arrives at the facility without one.
• The facility has (filled) hand sanitizer dispensers located within view and easy access throughout the visitation areas.
• Virtual visitation should be used as an additional method of visitation, not in place of in-person visitation.
• In some circumstances, to ensure the greatest number of detainees have access to visitation, the facility may need to limit the number of visits per detainee, while also providing virtual visitation if available.
• If a facility limits in-person visitation, the facility will notify the local ICE field office director explaining why the limitation is necessary as a protective measure and the expected timeframe when full in-person visitation will be restored.
• The facility has a process in place that allows for social distancing of six or more feet between visitors and detainees, unless separated by a glass or plexiglass partition.

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:

Karnes County Immigration Processing Center
Detainee’s full name and A-number
409 FM 1144, Karnes City, TX 78118

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:

(830) 254-2000
Karnes County Immigration Processing Center
409 FM 1144 Karnes City, TX 78118

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 San Antonio 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 resident 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
1777 NE Loop 410, Suite 1500
San Antonio, TX 78217

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:

Field Office Director, Enforcement and Removal Operations
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
1777 NE Loop 410, Suite 1500
San Antonio, TX 78217

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