Alaska: Resources for ICE Detainees

This guide is for people detained by ICE in Alaska and for their families. It covers where detainees are held, how to locate them, where to get free or low-cost legal help, how bond works, and how to stay connected. The most urgent fact about Alaska: there is no dedicated ICE detention facility in the state. People arrested by ICE in Alaska are typically transferred out of state to the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington, sometimes within 24 to 48 hours of arrest. Once transferred, visiting becomes far more difficult and more expensive. Act immediately. Last verified: June 2026.

Step 1: Find Your Family Member - Right Now

If someone has been detained by ICE and you do not know where they are, use these tools immediately:

ICE Online Detainee Locator: locator.ice.gov

You need: the person's full legal name, date of birth, and country of birth - OR their A-Number (Alien Registration Number, found on any immigration paperwork). The locator shows people currently in ICE custody and people released within the last 60 days. Juveniles under 18 do not appear in the system.

ICE Detention Reporting and Information Line: 1-888-351-4024 (toll-free)

EOIR Immigration Court Case Status: 1-800-898-7180

ICE Seattle Field Office (covers Alaska): (206) 835-0650. Alaska falls under the jurisdiction of ICE's Seattle Field Office, which also covers Washington state and Oregon.

If the person cannot be located through the online system, they may still be in a state Alaska Department of Corrections facility awaiting transfer. Call the facility where you believe they were booked. The primary facilities ICE has used in Alaska are the Anchorage Correctional Complex and Hiland Mountain Correctional Center in Eagle River. Contact information is below under Step 2.

Step 2: Where ICE Detainees Are Held in Alaska

Critical: No Permanent ICE Detention Facility in Alaska

Alaska has no dedicated immigration detention center. This is the defining feature of detention in this state - and the most important thing for families to understand. People arrested by ICE in Alaska are held temporarily in Alaska Department of Corrections facilities under a contract between the Alaska DOC and the federal government. They are then transferred, typically by air, to the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington.

Transfers can happen extremely fast - sometimes within 24 to 48 hours of arrest. In documented cases, detainees were told they would be flown out the next day. The window to reach an attorney, file legal motions, and arrange bond before a transfer is very short. Contact a lawyer the same day as any arrest.

Temporary Alaska Holding Facilities

Anchorage Correctional Complex (ACC)

1400 East 4th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501

Phone: (907) 269-4100

The ACC is the primary short-term holding location for ICE detainees in Alaska. It is a state jail operated by the Alaska Department of Corrections, not a dedicated immigration facility. ICE detainees are held under the same conditions as state criminal inmates, in what advocates have described as punitive conditions inconsistent with civil immigration detention standards.

Hiland Mountain Correctional Center

Eagle River, AK (approximately 10 miles north of Anchorage)

Phone: (907) 694-9511

A state women's correctional facility that has been used to hold women detained by ICE. Documented cases include women transferred here from street arrests and from hospital detention.

Note: ICE has also transferred detainees from out of state to Alaska DOC facilities when the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma needed to relieve crowding. In June 2025, approximately 40 men were flown from Tacoma to Alaska and held at the ACC for about three weeks under conditions that Alaska legislators and attorneys described as substandard. These transfers can go in either direction.

Primary Transfer Destination: Northwest ICE Processing Center

1623 East J Street, Tacoma, WA 98421

Phone: (253) 779-6000

Operated by: GEO Group under contract with ICE

This is where most Alaskans detained by ICE end up for the duration of their immigration proceedings. It is a 1,575-bed facility serving Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. Once a person is transferred to Tacoma, their immigration court proceedings typically occur there or by video from the facility.

Tacoma is approximately 2,500 miles from Anchorage. In-person family visits become prohibitively difficult and expensive for most Alaska families. Remote video visitation becomes the primary way to stay connected. See Step 5 for how to communicate once a family member is in Tacoma.

Step 3: Get Legal Help - This Is Urgent

The transfer timeline in Alaska is extremely compressed. An attorney who gets involved on the day of arrest may be able to file emergency motions that prevent or delay transfer to Tacoma - which then keeps the case in Alaska immigration court where family and community support are accessible. Every hour matters.

Free and Low-Cost Legal Help in Alaska

Alaska Immigration Justice Project (AIJP) - Alaska Institute for Justice

akijp.org

Anchorage: 431 West 7th Avenue, Suite 208, Anchorage, AK 99501 | (907) 279-2457 | Toll-free: 1-877-273-2457

Juneau: 9085 Glacier Highway, Suite 204, Juneau, AK 99801 | (907) 789-1326

AIJP is Alaska's primary nonprofit provider of immigration legal services. They prioritize survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and trafficking, but also assist with detention and deportation defense. Services are provided statewide from Anchorage and Juneau offices.

Alaska Immigration Law Center (AILC)

visamerica.com - Anchorage-based private immigration law firm that handles detention and bond cases, deportation defense, and court representation. They serve clients in English, Spanish, Tagalog, and Ukrainian, and work statewide including Fairbanks, Juneau, Soldotna, and Kodiak. Offers consultations.

Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALSC)

alsc-law.org | 1-800-478-9295 (toll-free statewide)

Provides free civil legal services to qualifying low-income Alaskans, including some immigration matters. Contact to determine eligibility.

EOIR Pro Bono List for Detainees

ICE requires facilities to post lists of pro bono legal service providers in all housing units. Ask facility staff for the posted list and for a free call to any provider on it. Once transferred to Tacoma, detainees can access the pro bono list for the Northwest Detention Center.

Immigration Advocates Network

immigrationadvocates.org - searchable national directory. Search by Alaska or, once transferred, by Washington state (Tacoma zip code 98421) to find legal services near where your family member is held.

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) - for detainees in Tacoma

nwirp.org | Detention line: (206) 957-8611

Once a detainee has been transferred to the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, NWIRP becomes a critical resource. NWIRP provides legal representation and advocacy for detainees at the Tacoma facility and operates a detention-specific legal line.

Step 4: Bond - How to Get Someone Released

Bond allows a detained person to be released from ICE custody while their immigration case continues in court. Not everyone is eligible - some people face mandatory detention under federal law. An immigration judge sets bond at a bond hearing. Request a bond hearing immediately through your attorney or directly from the immigration court.

Because most Alaska detainees are transferred to Tacoma, bond hearings typically occur in Tacoma immigration court or by video. Hiring an attorney who can appear in Tacoma or file remotely is essential. The attorneys at AIJP and AILC are familiar with this pipeline.

Where to Post Bond

Immigration bond cannot be posted at Alaska state DOC facilities. Once a person is transferred to Tacoma, bond is posted through the ICE ERO Seattle Field Office or at the Northwest Detention Center.

ICE ERO Seattle Field Office: 1000 Second Avenue, Suite 2900, Seattle, WA 98104 | (206) 835-0650

Bond amounts in immigration cases typically range from $1,500 to $25,000 or more. Payment is required in full. A licensed immigration bond agent (surety company) can post the bond electronically for a fee of 2%-20%, which avoids the need to travel to Seattle.

Bonds are paid in cash, cashier's check, or money order made payable to 'Department of Homeland Security.' Bring the detainee's full name, A-Number, and the bond order from the immigration judge.

Act fast on bond: Community fundraising has worked in Alaska.

In documented 2025 cases, Alaska community members raised thousands of dollars through online fundraisers to cover bond and legal fees for detained neighbors. Attorney Nicholas Olano, who has represented multiple Alaska detainees, noted that financial support for bond and legal fees is one of the most concrete ways the community can help.

Bond Funds

Northwest Detention Center Resistance Bond Fund

nwdcresistance.org - specifically supports detainees at the Tacoma facility, where most Alaska detainees end up.

National Immigrant Bond Fund

immigrantbondfund.org - national fund that posts bond for detained immigrants in certain circumstances; requires family contribution.

Vera Institute - SAFE Network

vera.org - check website for current availability in Washington state/Tacoma.

Step 5: Communication - Staying Connected Across 2,500 Miles

Once a family member is transferred to Tacoma, the distance creates a serious barrier to contact. Plan for video visitation as your primary ongoing connection.

While Still in Alaska (Anchorage Correctional Complex or Hiland Mountain)

Phone: Both ACC and Hiland Mountain use the standard Alaska DOC phone system. Detainees can make outgoing calls; families cannot call in directly. Set up a phone account through the DOC's contracted phone provider to fund calls. Contact the facility directly for current phone service provider and procedures.

In-person visits at ACC and Hiland Mountain follow Alaska DOC visitation rules. Contact the facilities directly for scheduling and visitor requirements - these are state correctional facilities, not immigration-specific facilities, and rules apply as to all DOC facilities.

After Transfer to Tacoma - Northwest ICE Processing Center

Address for mail: [Detainee Full Name + A-Number], Northwest ICE Processing Center, 1623 East J Street, Tacoma, WA 98421

Phone: Detainees at the Tacoma facility use the GTL/ViaPath phone system. Set up a prepaid account at viapath.com or through the GTL platform so your family member can call without collect charges.

Video visitation: Schedule through the GTL/ViaPath video system. This is the most practical way for Alaska families to maintain regular contact given the distance.

In-person visits: The Northwest ICE Processing Center does allow in-person visits, but for most Alaska families, the cost and distance make this impractical for regular visits. Check the facility's current visitation schedule at ice.gov or by calling (253) 779-6000.

Free calls: ICE standards require that detainees at Tacoma have access to free calls to consular officials and pro bono legal service providers. Ask the detainee to request the posted free call list from facility staff.

Sending Money

For detainees at Tacoma, money is deposited into their commissary account through the GTL/ViaPath platform or kiosks at the facility. For detainees still in Alaska state DOC facilities, use the Alaska DOC's approved deposit methods for the specific facility.

Step 6: Your Rights Inside Detention

ICE detention is civil, not criminal. Being detained by ICE does not mean you have been convicted of a crime. Federal standards require all ICE detention facilities - including Alaska DOC facilities holding ICE detainees - to meet Performance-Based National Detention Standards (PBNDS).

Alaska advocates and legislators have documented significant gaps between those standards and actual conditions at state DOC facilities used for ICE detention. The Alaska House Judiciary Committee held a hearing in June 2025 specifically to examine conditions after attorneys testified that detainees were subject to lengthy lockdowns, overuse of handcuffs, pepper spray, and strip searches despite being civil detainees with no criminal charges.

Key rights every detainee has:

The right to speak with a lawyer. In civil immigration proceedings, there is no government-appointed attorney, but you have the right to find and hire one and to make confidential calls to attorneys.

The right to a bond hearing before an immigration judge (unless subject to mandatory detention).

The right to be free from physical, sexual, and verbal abuse.

The right to access medical and mental health care.

The right to practice your religion.

The right to access a law library and legal materials.

The right to free calls to consular officials and legal service providers on the posted pro bono list.

The right to file a grievance if your rights are violated.

The right to communicate with your home country's consulate.

If you believe conditions are violating your rights:

File a grievance with the facility. Contact the DHS Office of Inspector General: oig.dhs.gov | 1-800-323-8603. Contact the ACLU of Alaska: aclualaska.org | (907) 277-6050. Contact your attorney immediately.

Consular access:

You have the right under the Vienna Convention to contact your country's consulate. ICE must inform you of this right. Ask a staff member for the consular contact list for your country. Calls to consulates are free under ICE standards.

Quick Reference - Alaska ICE Detainee Resources

Find a detainee:

ICE Detainee Locator: locator.ice.gov

ICE Detention Reporting Line: 1-888-351-4024

EOIR Case Status: 1-800-898-7180

ICE Seattle Field Office (covers Alaska): (206) 835-0650

Temporary Alaska facilities:

Anchorage Correctional Complex - 1400 East 4th Avenue, Anchorage - (907) 269-4100

Hiland Mountain Correctional Center - Eagle River - (907) 694-9511

Primary transfer destination:

Northwest ICE Processing Center - 1623 East J Street, Tacoma, WA 98421 - (253) 779-6000

Legal help:

Alaska Immigration Justice Project (AIJP): akijp.org | (907) 279-2457 | Toll-free: 1-877-273-2457

Alaska Immigration Law Center: visamerica.com | Anchorage

Alaska Legal Services Corporation: alsc-law.org | 1-800-478-9295

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (for Tacoma): nwirp.org | (206) 957-8611

Bond - post after transfer to Tacoma:

ICE ERO Seattle: 1000 Second Avenue, Suite 2900, Seattle, WA 98104 | (206) 835-0650

Bond funds:

Northwest Detention Center Resistance: nwdcresistance.org

National Immigrant Bond Fund: immigrantbondfund.org

Communication (Tacoma):

Phone and video: GTL/ViaPath - viapath.com

Mail: [Name + A-Number], Northwest ICE Processing Center, 1623 E J Street, Tacoma, WA 98421

Sources and verification: Alaska Immigration Law Center / visamerica.com, 'Is ICE in Alaska?' (updated April 2026; no permanent ICE facility; transfers to Tacoma; 13 held in all of 2024; 99 held January 2025-mid-January 2026; most arrests targeted individuals not workplace raids; transfers within day or two; AILC serves English, Spanish, Tagalog, Ukrainian); Anchorage Daily News, 'Alaska Sees Surge of ICE Detentions Amid National Immigration Crackdown,' January 19, 2026 (99 detainees January 2025-mid-January 2026; state DOC contract; Tacoma as destination; about a third first detained on state criminal charges; multiple countries of origin; ICE grew from 2 to approximately 12 officers in Alaska); Alaska Beacon, 'ICE Transfers Detainees from Alaska Prison,' July 2025 (42 men transferred from Tacoma to ACC June 8, 2025; daily protests; Alaska House Judiciary Committee hearing; punitive conditions - lockdowns, handcuffs, pepper spray, strip searches; all civil detainees; attorney Margaret Woods quotes; $223.70 per man per day reimbursement; transferred back to Tacoma July 2025); Alaska Public Media, 'ICE Officials Send 40 Immigration Detainees to Alaska Correctional Facilities,' June 2025 (40 men; Anchorage Correctional Complex; conditions 'very poor'; food, medical, space issues; attorney Nicholas Olano); Alaska Public Media, 'As ICE Arrests Surge in Alaska, Advocates Step Up,' October 2025 (56 arrested through October 2025; Paola Guzman case; $16,000 raised in online fundraiser; community fundraising; Olano quote on financial support); ADN, 'So Far in 2026, ICE Has Arrested at Least 47 People in Alaska,' April 2026 (47 by April 2026; pregnant woman case Mendoza Santiago; Hiland Mountain Correctional Center; temporary injunction filing; husband Gonzalez Merino transferred to Tacoma; courthouse arrest January 12 2026; attorneys Lara Nations and Nicolas Olano); Alaska Immigration Justice Project (akijp.org; Anchorage address 431 W 7th Ave Suite 208; Juneau address 9085 Glacier Hwy Suite 204; phone numbers); Northwest ICE Processing Center details (1623 E J Street, Tacoma, WA 98421; GEO Group; capacity ~1,575; (253) 779-6000); NWIRP detention line (206) 957-8611; Alaska Legal Services Corporation 1-800-478-9295. Volatile items: Verify transfer timeline and current facilities being used by calling AIJP or the ICE Seattle Field Office - Alaska's use of state facilities for temporary holding is subject to ongoing negotiation and can change. Verify Tacoma communication platforms (GTL/ViaPath) directly with the facility. Last verified: June 2026.