Florida Detainee Search: Find Someone Held on an ICE Detainer

To find someone held on an ICE detainer in Florida, search two places: the county sheriff’s inmate search for the jail where the person was booked, and the ICE Online Detainee Locator System once the person has been transferred to ICE custody. A person can be in the first system, the second, or briefly neither, so this guide shows you how to search both and what to do when a name does not appear.

Key Takeaways

• County jail searches and the ICE locator are separate systems. Check the county first, then ICE.
• ICE’s locator needs an exact name match, and its own brochure says information can be up to 8 hours old, so confirm with the facility.
• An ICE detainer is a request to the jail, not a deportation order. What happens next depends on the person’s history and the legal basis for custody.

Step 1: How do you search a Florida county jail?

Each of Florida’s 67 counties runs its own jail and its own search page. Many are online, a few are only booking reports or a blotter, and some small counties require a phone call. The table below lists the main Central Florida and statewide jails. We verified these pages in April 2026, but sheriff’s offices change their websites, so if a link no longer works, search for the sheriff’s office by name.

Search by last name and first name, and try spelling variations, a middle name, or a hyphenated surname. If the person was arrested very recently, the record may take time to appear. When a search page does not work or shows nothing, call the jail number above and ask whether the person is in custody and whether there is an immigration hold. Our county guides explain what to expect, such as being arrested in Orange County and now on an ICE hold.

Step 2: How does the ICE Online Detainee Locator work?

Once a person is in ICE custody, the official tool is the ICE Online Detainee Locator System. According to ICE’s own brochure on the system, there are two ways to search.

• A-Number and country of birth: the most reliable method. The nine-digit A-Number appears in the top right corner of a Notice to Appear (Form I-862) and on many other immigration documents.
• First and last name and country of birth: use this if you do not have the A-Number. The system needs the name as it appears on the detention record, so misspellings can return no results. Try variations.

The brochure explains what the results mean. “In custody” means the person is currently in an ICE detention facility, and the record shows the facility and how to contact it. “Not in custody” means the person was released from ICE custody within the last 60 days. The system does not list people under 18, and some people are omitted for safety or security reasons. It also warns that newly detained people may not appear right away and that information can be up to 8 hours old, so contact the facility to confirm before you travel to visit. The brochure is an older ICE document, so treat the details as a guide and check the locator page for current instructions.

Step 3: What if you cannot find the person?

This happens often, and it does not necessarily mean the worst. Work through these in order:

• Call the county jail. Ask whether the person is still there, was released, or was transferred, and ask for a booking number.
• Retry the ICE locator. Use the A-Number if you can find it from any old paperwork. Try name variations if you only have a name.
• Contact the ICE field office. The brochure suggests contacting the appropriate ICE field office if you cannot find someone. Our guide to ICE in Orlando explains how the field offices are organized in our area.
• Check for an immigration court case. If the person has a hearing, EOIR’s system may show it. See how to check your immigration court case status.

Keep a written log of every call: date, who you spoke to, and what they said. That log helps an attorney later.

What does an ICE detainer mean?

An ICE detainer is not an arrest warrant and not a removal order. Under 8 CFR 287.7, a detainer is a request that the holding agency notify the Department of Homeland Security before releasing someone so DHS can assume custody. For a person who is not otherwise held, the regulation says custody may not exceed 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. In Florida, state law also addresses how jails handle detainers; see our explainer on whether Florida is a sanctuary state and how 287(g) works.

Where might ICE move the person?

People arrested in Florida can be transferred to a detention facility inside or outside the state. Our guide to ICE detention centers in Florida lists locations, phone numbers, and visiting information. If your family reads Spanish, we also have a guide in Spanish: mi familiar fue detenido por ICE. For help with staying in contact, see supporting a loved one in ICE detention.

What are the options once you find them?

The realistic options for getting someone out of ICE custody are bond, a habeas corpus petition, or parole. Which one, if any, applies depends on the person’s history and the legal basis for the detention. Read about how much an immigration bond costs in Florida, what a judge weighs at a bond hearing, and how to pay an ICE bond. We do not tell families to act within a set number of hours as a universal rule; the wrong filing at the wrong time can create new problems, so the first step is getting the facts to a lawyer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I search for someone in a Florida jail without a name?

County inmate searches generally need at least a last name. If you only know a booking date or number, call the jail directly. For ICE custody, the locator needs either an A-Number and country of birth, or a name and country of birth.

Why does the ICE locator say my relative is not found?

Common reasons include a misspelled name, a new transfer that has not been entered yet, or a record that is not listed. ICE’s brochure notes that newly detained people may not appear right away and that some people are omitted. Call the facility and the ICE field office to confirm.

Does an ICE detainer mean my relative will be deported?

No. A detainer is a request that the jail notify DHS before release. It is not a removal order. Whether a person is removed depends on an immigration case, and there may be defenses or forms of relief.

How do I get help finding a detained loved one?

Collect the person’s full name, date of birth, country of birth, and A-Number if you have it. Then call us at (407) 917-2087 so we can look at the facts and tell you whether we can help.

How We Can Help

We help families across Central Florida locate detained loved ones and understand their options. Call us at (407) 917-2087 or start with the pre-evaluation described above; we review the facts and tell you honestly whether we can help. Our founding attorney Denisse Ilabaca is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by The Florida Bar, a distinction held by fewer than two percent of Florida attorneys.

This article is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Immigration law changes often, and every case turns on its own facts. Ilabaca Law, PLLC, 300 N Ronald Reagan Blvd, Suite 305, Longwood, FL 32750. Attorney advertising.