This guide is for people detained by ICE in California and for their families. California has more ICE detention capacity than any other state - eight facilities with nearly 10,000 beds as of June 2026, up from six at the start of 2025. The average daily population of detained people in California was approximately 5,337 as of spring 2026, a 72% increase from April 2025. Most facilities are located in California's Central Valley (Kern County) and in the desert regions of San Bernardino and Imperial counties. California law requires the state Attorney General to inspect and report on ICE detention facilities - conditions documented in those reports are noted below. Free legal help at multiple California detention facilities is available through the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice (CCIJ) and regional legal aid organizations. Last verified: June 2026.
Step 1: Find Your Family Member - Right Now
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). The locator shows people currently in ICE custody and those released within the last 60 days.
ICE Detention Reporting and Information Line: 1-888-351-4024 (toll-free)
EOIR Immigration Court Case Status: 1-800-898-7180
ICE Los Angeles Field Office (covers Southern California): (213) 830-7911
ICE San Francisco Field Office (covers Northern and Central California): (415) 844-5512 or (415) 844-5547
If your family member cannot be located through the online system, call the specific facility you believe they may be held at - phone numbers are listed below for each facility. California has eight distinct facilities; knowing which one is essential because visitation rules, phone systems, and legal resources differ at each.
Step 2: Where ICE Detainees Are Held in California
California's eight facilities as of June 2026 are operated by two private prison companies - GEO Group and CoreCivic - all under contract with ICE. No ICE facility in California is government-operated. The two newest facilities, California City (opened August 2025) and Central Valley Annex in McFarland (opened April 2026), both occupy sites of former California state prisons.
Kern County Cluster - Four Facilities Near Bakersfield
California City Detention Facility - Largest in California
11500 Rancho Road, California City, CA 93505
Phone: (760) 491-8123 | Attorney scheduling: CalCityAttorneySchedule@corecivic.com
Legal mail: calcitylegaldoc@corecivic.com
Operated by: CoreCivic | Capacity: 2,560 beds
Opened August 2025 on the site of a former state prison. The largest ICE detention facility in California and among the largest in the country. Located in the Mojave Desert in eastern Kern County.
Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center
425 Golden State Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: (661) 859-1082
Operated by: GEO Group
Located in Bakersfield. CCIJ operates a free confidential legal line accessible via speed dial 7540# from inside the facility. California DOJ inspectors documented concerns including security classification irregularities and mental health care issues.
Golden State Annex
1433 West Lacey Boulevard, Hanford, CA 93230 (Kings County, near McFarland)
Phone: Contact ICE San Francisco Field Office for detainee information: (415) 844-5512
Operated by: GEO Group
CCIJ operates a free confidential legal line accessible via speed dial 7540# from inside the facility. California DOJ inspectors documented medical and mental health care concerns.
Central Valley Annex - Newest Facility
McFarland, CA (exact address - verify at ice.gov or by calling ICE)
Operated by: GEO Group | Capacity: approximately 700 beds
Opened April 2026 on the site of a former state prison. Located adjacent to Golden State Annex. State inspectors noted this facility began receiving detainees while the state's 2026 inspection report was being finalized; California DOJ said it will monitor this facility as well. Verify current contact information at ice.gov.
San Bernardino County / Inland Empire
Adelanto ICE Processing Center
Adelanto East: 10400 Rancho Road, Adelanto, CA 92301
Adelanto West: 10250 Rancho Road, Adelanto, CA 92301
Phone: (760) 561-6100
Operated by: GEO Group
One of the largest and longest-running ICE facilities in California. California DOJ documented four deaths at Adelanto between 2025 and 2026, with families alleging inadequate medical care in all four cases. State inspectors documented a pepper spray incident in a confined room holding approximately 50 people. Has nine housing units with different visiting schedules - confirm which unit your family member is in before traveling.
Southern California / San Diego Area
Otay Mesa Detention Center
7488 Calzada de la Fuente, San Diego, CA 92231
Phone: (619) 661-3823 | G-28 submissions: OMDC-G28@ice.dhs.gov
Operated by: CoreCivic (under ICE contract)
Located near the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego. California DOJ documented strip-search practices at Otay Mesa - the facility was found to be the only one in California that strips searches detainees after every non-attorney visit. Detainees and families described these searches as deeply distressing. Video visitation available 7 days a week, 8:30 AM-7:00 PM. In-person visits on Saturday, Sunday, and holidays, 9 AM-8 PM; schedule 10 days in advance by emailing OtayMesa.Scheduling@corecivic.com.
Imperial County / U.S.-Mexico Border
Imperial Regional Detention Facility
1572 Gateway Road, Calexico, CA 92231
Phone: Contact ICE San Diego Field Office: (619) 557-6117
Located in Calexico near the U.S.-Mexico border. Two deaths documented at this facility in 2025-2026 by California DOJ inspectors. Contact the facility or ICE field office for current visitation and communication information.
Orange County
James A. Musick Facility
13502 Musick Road, Irvine, CA 92618
Phone: Contact ICE Los Angeles Field Office: (213) 830-7911
Operated by Orange County under agreement with ICE. Located in Irvine in Orange County.
Step 3: Get Legal Help - Free Options Exist at Multiple Facilities
California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice (CCIJ)
ccijustice.org
CCIJ is the primary coordinating organization for detention legal services in California. They operate a free, confidential phone line reachable from inside detention via speed dial 7540# at Mesa Verde, Golden State Annex, and Yuba County Jail (now closed for ICE). CCIJ also coordinates California's Rapid Response Network - a statewide system of hotlines activated when ICE enforcement occurs in communities. Find your local rapid response number at ccijustice.org.
If a family member was detained within the last 24 hours, call your local rapid response hotline first - listed at ccijustice.org.
Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC)
ilrc.org - San Francisco-based national organization providing training, resources, and legal guidance for immigration practitioners and directly to immigrants. Resource hub for California legal aid.
California Lawyers Association - Immigration Section
Referral source for immigration attorneys across California.
State Bar of California - Legal Aid for Immigrants
calbar.ca.gov/public/legal-resources/resources-immigrants - Lists free and low-cost immigration legal service providers by region and links to LawHelpCA.org for searchable provider directory.
LawHelpCA.org
lawhelpca.org - Searchable directory of free and low-cost legal aid providers in California by county and legal issue, including immigration detention.
ACLU of California
acluca.org - Active in litigation challenging conditions at California ICE detention facilities, including Adelanto and Otay Mesa.
National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC)
immigrantjustice.org - Provides direct legal representation and advocacy for detained immigrants, including those in California facilities.
Al Otro Lado - San Diego
alotrolado.org - Provides legal services to immigrants and refugees on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border; strong presence in San Diego and Imperial County serving people held at Otay Mesa and Imperial Regional.
Pangea Legal Services - San Francisco Bay Area
pangealegal.org - Free immigration legal services including detention representation in Northern California.
CLINIC (Catholic Legal Immigration Network)
cliniclegal.org - Network of diocesan legal programs across California; many provide free or low-cost immigration legal services.
EOIR Pro Bono List
Every California ICE facility is required to post a list of free legal service providers in housing units and allow free calls to those providers. Ask your family member to request the list and use the free calls available.
Immigration Advocates Network
immigrationadvocates.org - National searchable directory; search by California county or facility zip code.
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. Immigration judges set bond amounts - typically $1,500 to $25,000 or more. Not everyone is eligible; mandatory detention applies to some based on criminal history or case type.
Bond cannot be posted directly at any California ICE detention facility. It must be posted at an ICE ERO office that accepts bond payments. California has seven such offices:
Los Angeles ICE ERO: 300 N. Los Angeles Street, Suite 7621, Los Angeles, CA 90012 | (213) 830-7911
San Diego ICE ERO: 880 Front Street, Suite 2242, San Diego, CA 92101 | (619) 436-0084
Bakersfield ICE ERO: 800 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301 | (661) 328-4500
Sacramento ICE ERO: 650 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA 95814 | (916) 329-4300
San Francisco ICE ERO: 630 Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA 94111 | (415) 844-5547
El Centro ICE ERO: 2051 N. Waterman Avenue, Suite 101, El Centro, CA 92243 | (760) 335-2200
Calexico ICE ERO: 1564 Gateway Road, Calexico, CA 92231 | (760) 768-6300
All bond offices: Monday through Friday (except federal holidays), 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Payment by money order, cashier's check, or certified check payable to 'Department of Homeland Security.' Bonds over $10,000 require a single cashier's check or certified check. Bring the detainee's full name, A-Number, and the bond order from the immigration judge.
A licensed immigration bond agent can post bond electronically for any California facility for a fee of 2%-20%, avoiding the need to travel to an ICE ERO office.
Bond Funds
Immigrant Bail Fund (various California regional funds)
Multiple regional bond funds operate in California. Search 'immigrant bond fund' plus your county or region. The CCIJ website lists current resources.
National Immigrant Bond Fund
immigrantbondfund.org - Posts bond for detained immigrants nationally; requires family contribution.
Vera Institute - SAFE Network
vera.org - Has operated bond assistance programs in California. Check current availability.
Step 5: Communication - Staying Connected
Visiting in Person
California's ICE facilities are spread across a large state. Confirm which specific facility before traveling - visiting hours vary significantly by facility and by housing unit within each facility. Always call or check ice.gov before driving; families are turned away if they arrive unprepared or at the wrong time.
Adelanto: Nine housing units with different visiting days and times per unit. Confirm your family member's unit and the corresponding schedule at (760) 561-6100.
Otay Mesa: In-person visits Saturday, Sunday, and holidays, 9 AM-8 PM; schedule 10 days in advance by emailing OtayMesa.Scheduling@corecivic.com. All visits are non-contact.
California City: Attorney visits available; contact CalCityAttorneySchedule@corecivic.com for scheduling.
Mesa Verde: Contact (661) 859-1082 for current visiting schedule by housing unit.
All facilities: Bring valid government-issued photo ID. Expect thorough security screening. Children must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older. Do not bring prohibited items.
State inspection note: California DOJ investigators documented that Otay Mesa strip-searches detainees after every non-attorney visit. Detainees and family members described these as humiliating, including searches conducted in front of officers of a different gender, and some people stopped visiting to avoid the searches. Be aware of this policy at Otay Mesa when planning visits.
Phone Calls
California ICE facilities use GTL/ViaPath (gettingout.com) or other contracted providers for phone services. Detainees cannot receive incoming calls. Set up a prepaid account through the facility's phone provider before the first call. Calls are monitored and recorded except for legal calls.
Free legal calls: ICE requires facilities to allow free calls to legal service providers on the posted pro bono list and to consular officials. CCIJ maintains a free confidential line reachable via speed dial 7540# at Mesa Verde and Golden State Annex.
Address mail to: [Detainee Full Name + A-Number], [Facility Name], [Facility Address]. All incoming mail is inspected. Letters, legal documents, and approved publications may be sent. Confirm specific rules with each facility.
Sending Money
Money for commissary accounts can typically be deposited through GTL/ViaPath (gettingout.com), facility kiosks, or mailed money orders. Contact the specific facility for current accepted deposit methods.
Step 6: Conditions, Medical Concerns, and Your Rights
California's Attorney General is required by state law to inspect ICE detention facilities and publish reports. The 2025 and 2026 reports documented serious concerns across all major California facilities, including mental health care failures, inadequate medical treatment, security classification irregularities, and deaths. Six deaths across California ICE facilities were documented in 2025-2026 - four at Adelanto and two at Imperial Regional. If a family member has a medical condition or mental health need, communicate with them frequently and contact legal help immediately if those needs are not being met.
If there is a medical emergency or safety concern:
Call the facility directly and insist on immediate medical attention. Contact CCIJ at ccijustice.org, the ACLU of California at acluca.org, and the DHS Inspector General at oig.dhs.gov | 1-800-323-8603.
Key rights every detainee has:
The right to medical and mental health care.
The right to speak with an attorney - including free calls to legal service providers on the posted list.
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 a law library and legal materials.
The right to practice your religion.
The right to file a grievance if your rights are violated.
The right to communicate with your home country's consulate (free calls to consulates are required).
California state law adds protections:
California has enacted laws providing additional protections for detained immigrants, including the TRUTH Act (requiring notification when ICE requests interviews) and the VALUES Act (limiting state and local cooperation with ICE). These do not apply inside federal ICE facilities but may affect how local law enforcement interacts with ICE.
To file a grievance:
Ask facility staff for a grievance form. Contact the DHS Inspector General: oig.dhs.gov | 1-800-323-8603. Contact CCIJ or the ACLU of California for support with the process.
Quick Reference - California 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 Los Angeles Field Office: (213) 830-7911
ICE San Francisco Field Office: (415) 844-5512
Primary detention facilities:
California City (CoreCivic, 2,560 beds): 11500 Rancho Road, California City - (760) 491-8123
Adelanto (GEO, multiple units): 10400/10250 Rancho Road, Adelanto - (760) 561-6100
Mesa Verde (GEO, Bakersfield): 425 Golden State Ave - (661) 859-1082
Golden State Annex (GEO, Hanford/Kings Co.): 1433 W. Lacey Blvd, Hanford
Central Valley Annex (GEO, McFarland): opened April 2026 - verify address at ice.gov
Otay Mesa (CoreCivic, San Diego): 7488 Calzada de la Fuente - (619) 661-3823
Imperial Regional (Calexico): 1572 Gateway Road - call ICE SD Field Office (619) 557-6117
James A. Musick (Irvine): 13502 Musick Road - call ICE LA Field Office (213) 830-7911
Free legal help:
CCIJ: ccijustice.org | Speed dial 7540# from Mesa Verde, Golden State Annex
Al Otro Lado (San Diego / Otay Mesa): alotrolado.org
Pangea Legal Services (Northern CA): pangealegal.org
LawHelpCA.org - searchable provider directory by county
Post bond - 7 California ICE ERO offices (Mon-Fri, 9 AM-3 PM):
Los Angeles: 300 N. LA St., Suite 7621 | (213) 830-7911
San Diego: 880 Front St., Suite 2242 | (619) 436-0084
Bakersfield: 800 Truxtun Ave | (661) 328-4500
Sacramento: 650 Capitol Mall | (916) 329-4300
San Francisco: 630 Sansome St | (415) 844-5547
El Centro: 2051 N. Waterman Ave, Suite 101 | (760) 335-2200
Calexico: 1564 Gateway Road | (760) 768-6300
Medical emergencies / grievances:
CCIJ: ccijustice.org
ACLU of California: acluca.org
DHS Inspector General: oig.dhs.gov | 1-800-323-8603
Sources and verification: CalMatters, 'ICE Quietly Opens Another Detention Center in a Former California Prison,' April 24, 2026 (eight facilities as of April 2026; up from six at start of 2025; California City 2,560 beds opened August 2025; Central Valley Annex 700 beds opened April 2026 McFarland; all operated by private companies; total capacity nearly 10,000 beds; average daily population ~5,337 up 72% from ~3,104 in April 2025; Edwin Carmona-Cruz CCIJ co-executive director quote; allegations at Mesa Verde and Golden State Annex - $1/day labor, medical neglect, solitary, food); CalMatters, 'California Sent Investigators into ICE Detention Centers. Detainees Wept in Interviews,' May 15, 2026 (California DOJ inspections required by 2017 law; four deaths at Adelanto, two at Imperial Regional; families allege inadequate medical care; Otay Mesa strip search policy - only facility stripping after every non-attorney visit; women searched in front of male officers; pepper spray incident at Adelanto approximately 50 people in confined room; Trump administration defunded legal orientation programs and DHS civil rights oversight; transgender protections removed); California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice (ccijustice.org; speed dial 7540# at Mesa Verde, Golden State Annex; rapid response network; First Steps guide); Center for Immigration Assistance (cfiaus.com; seven California bond posting locations with addresses and phone numbers; Adelanto addresses and phone; Mesa Verde phone (661) 859-1082 and Bakersfield bond posting 800 Truxtun Ave; Otay Mesa phone (619) 661-3823 and San Diego bond 880 Front St); ICE Otay Mesa page (ice.gov; OMDC-G28@ice.dhs.gov; attorney visits Monday-Sunday 8:15 AM-9:30 PM; all social visits non-contact); ICE California City page (ice.gov; CalCityAttorneySchedule@corecivic.com (760) 491-8123; calcitylegaldoc@corecivic.com); Otay Mesa (cfiaus.com; video visits 7 days 8:30 AM-7 PM; in-person Saturday/Sunday/holidays 9 AM-8 PM; email OtayMesa.Scheduling@corecivic.com 10 days advance; bond at 880 Front Street San Diego); Golden State Annex (Hanford CA; 1433 W Lacey Blvd); California State Bar immigrant resources page (calbar.ca.gov; LawHelpCA.org reference). Volatile items: Verify Central Valley Annex address and contact information (opened April 2026; address and phone not yet established at time of research; check ice.gov); verify current visiting hours at each facility before traveling (hours change frequently; Adelanto has nine different unit schedules); verify CCIJ speed dial availability at new facilities (currently documented at Mesa Verde and Golden State Annex); verify current bond posting hours at all seven ICE ERO offices. Last verified: June 2026.