Connecticut: Resources for ICE Detainees

This guide is for people detained by ICE in Connecticut and for their families. Connecticut has no dedicated long-term ICE detention facility. People arrested by ICE in Connecticut are briefly processed at the ICE Hartford office, then transferred - typically within hours - to detention facilities outside the state, most commonly Plymouth County Correctional Facility in Plymouth, Massachusetts, approximately 90 miles from Hartford. ICE arrests in Connecticut more than doubled in 2025 compared to 2024, and documented cases include transfers to Louisiana, Texas, and Guantanamo Bay. Act immediately - the window before out-of-state transfer is short. ICE in Connecticut falls under the Boston Field Office, which covers all of New England. 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). New detainees may not appear immediately - try spelling variants and check daily. If the search returns nothing within 48 hours, call the organizations below.

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

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

ICE Hartford Sub-Office (covers all of Connecticut): HAR.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov | Monday-Friday, 8 AM-3:30 PM

ICE Boston Field Office (regional headquarters): Boston.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov | (781) 359-7660

Hartford Deportation Defense rapid response: colectivodefensa.org - immigrant-led mutual aid collective active in Hartford area ICE enforcement situations.

National Lawyers Guild Connecticut Chapter legal support hotline: (203) 896-7221 - available for reporting arrests and connecting people to bond and legal resources.

Connecticut Rapid Response: Dial 2-1-1 statewide for community resource referrals including immigration support.

If a family member was arrested and has not yet been transferred: the ICE Hartford office is at 450 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06103. Detainees pass through here before transfer to Massachusetts or other facilities. Call Hartford Deportation Defense or the NLG hotline immediately if you believe someone is still being processed in Hartford.

Step 2: Where ICE Detainees Are Held

The Connecticut Detention Pipeline

Connecticut has no dedicated ICE detention facility. The pipeline for Connecticut detainees typically follows this pattern: arrest anywhere in Connecticut -> brief processing at ICE Hartford office or local law enforcement booking -> transfer within hours to Plymouth County Correctional Facility in Plymouth, Massachusetts -> possible further transfer to Louisiana, Texas, New Hampshire (Strafford County), or elsewhere depending on bed availability and ICE logistics.

This pipeline has been documented in multiple specific Connecticut cases in 2025 and 2026: a Cheshire High School student arrested in April 2026 was processed at the ICE Hartford office and booked at Plymouth by early afternoon of the same day. An Afghan interpreter arrested at an East Hartford ICE appointment in July 2025 was sent to Plymouth, where he was held for four months. A Hartford man with no criminal charges beyond immigration offenses was transferred from Plymouth to Pine Prairie ICE Processing Center in Louisiana and then to Guantanamo Bay before deportation to Nicaragua.

Once in the out-of-state pipeline, cases become significantly harder to manage from Connecticut. An attorney who intervenes on the day of arrest may be able to file emergency motions that affect where someone is transferred and what immigration court handles their case. Contact legal help the same day as any arrest.

Plymouth County Correctional Facility - Primary Transfer Destination

26 Long Pond Road, Plymouth, MA 02360

Detainee inquiries: (508) 830-6200 (8 AM-4 PM)

Urgent messages: (508) 830-6200

ICE case information email: Boston.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov

Attorney virtual visits: Jurislink.com - attorneys schedule through Jurislink; 24 hours advance notice required; business hours 8 AM-10 PM

Operated by: Plymouth County Sheriff's Department under contract with ICE

Plymouth County Correctional Facility in Plymouth, Massachusetts is the primary facility where Connecticut ICE detainees are held. It is a county jail operating under an intergovernmental service agreement with ICE. It is located approximately 90 miles from Hartford and 45 miles from Boston. Most Connecticut cases are adjudicated at the Boston Immigration Court. Phone calls from Plymouth use Securus - set up an account at securustechnologies.com.

Other Possible Holding Locations

Strafford County Department of Corrections, Dover, NH: 266 County Farm Road, Dover, NH 03820 | (603) 742-3310. An alternative holding location for New England detainees when Plymouth is at capacity.

Burlington, MA ICE hold room: 1000 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. The ICE Burlington facility has been used as a short-term hold room; Connecticut Rep. John Larson was denied access in February 2026 when he attempted to visit; ICE denied it was a detention facility despite documented reports of detainees sleeping on concrete floors without shower access.

Louisiana and Texas facilities: Connecticut detainees have been transferred to Pine Prairie ICE Processing Center in Louisiana and to facilities in Texas, particularly when New England facilities are at capacity. Use the ICE Detainee Locator to track transfers as they occur.

Guantanamo Bay: Documented cases show at least one Connecticut detainee transferred to Guantanamo Bay in early 2025. While rare, this extreme transfer illustrates the range of outcomes possible from Connecticut arrests.

Step 3: Get Legal Help - Act the Same Day

Connecticut detainees can be out of state within hours. An attorney or advocate who contacts ICE or files an emergency motion the same day as an arrest has meaningfully more options. After transfer, options narrow. Contact legal help immediately.

Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI)

cirict.org | immigration@crict.org

Hartford: 175 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Hartford, CT 06106 | (860) 692-3085

Bridgeport: 670 Clinton Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06605 | (203) 336-0141

Stamford: 34 Woodland Avenue, Stamford, CT 06902 | (203) 965-7190

Waterbury: also served

CIRI is the only statewide nonprofit recognized by the Department of Justice and Board of Immigration Appeals to provide immigration services to low-income individuals in Connecticut. Established in 1918. Staff includes immigration lawyers, DOJ accredited representatives, and immigration counselors. Provides assistance in naturalization, adjustment of status, asylum, family reunification, VAWA, and removal defense. Contact CIRI first for detention cases.

Greater Hartford Legal Aid

ghla.org | (860) 541-5000 | Hartford County

Free civil legal services for low-income people in Hartford County, including some immigration matters. Contact to determine eligibility.

New Haven Legal Assistance Association (NHLAA)

nhlaa.org - Free legal services to people living in poverty in New Haven County and the Lower Naugatuck Valley. Provides legal advice and representation.

Connecticut Legal Services (CLS)

ctlegalservices.org - Free legal advice, clinics, and representation to low-income Connecticans and seniors. Multiple offices statewide.

Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization - Yale Law School

law.yale.edu/studying-law-yale/clinical-and-experiential-learning/our-clinics - Yale Law immigration clinics provide representation to some detained individuals.

Hartford Deportation Defense (Colectivo de Defensa de Hartford)

colectivodefensa.org - Immigrant-led mutual aid organization in Hartford active in rapid response to ICE enforcement. Not a legal services provider but an organizing and support network that can connect families to resources and provide direct community support. Contact immediately after an arrest for community mobilization and resource navigation.

National Lawyers Guild - Connecticut Chapter

Statewide legal support hotline: (203) 896-7221 - Available for reporting arrests and police violence, jail support, and connecting people to bond resources. Particularly relevant in the hours immediately following an arrest.

ACLU of Connecticut

acluct.org - Civil liberties and immigration rights advocacy; litigation and policy work.

Boston Immigration Justice Accompaniment Network (BIJAN)

beyondbondboston.org - Boston-area organization that accompanies and supports detainees at Plymouth County Correctional Facility. If a Connecticut family member is transferred to Plymouth, BIJAN provides visitation support, resources, and orientation to the facility for families.

EOIR Pro Bono List

Facilities including Plymouth County are required to post pro bono legal service lists in housing units and allow free calls to listed providers. Ask your family member to request the list and use the free calls available to contact legal help.

Immigration Advocates Network

immigrationadvocates.org - National searchable directory; search by Connecticut or, once transferred, by Massachusetts (Plymouth zip code 02360).

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. An immigration judge sets bond at a bond hearing. Connecticut cases adjudicated at Boston Immigration Court or, if transferred to Louisiana or Texas, at courts in those states. Not everyone is eligible - mandatory detention applies in some cases based on criminal history or case type, and the 2025 Laken Riley Act expanded mandatory detention to include people arrested for certain theft-related charges even without conviction.

Where to Post Bond for Connecticut/Plymouth Detainees

Bond cannot be posted at Plymouth County Correctional Facility. For Connecticut detainees held at Plymouth, immigration bond is posted at the closest ICE ERO facility accepting bond payments:

ICE ERO Burlington, MA: 1000 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803 | (781) 359-7500

Bond posting hours: Monday through Friday (except federal holidays), 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Payment: Money order, cashier's check, or certified check payable to 'Department of Homeland Security.' For bonds over $10,000, a single cashier's check or certified check is required. 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 a fee of 2%-20%, avoiding the need to travel to Burlington, MA.

For detainees transferred to Louisiana or Texas: bond is posted at the ICE ERO office nearest that facility. Confirm the correct posting location by calling the ICE Detention Reporting Line: 1-888-351-4024.

Bond Funds

National Immigrant Bond Fund

immigrantbondfund.org - National fund that posts bond for detained immigrants; requires family contribution.

BIJAN - Beyond Bond Boston

beyondbondboston.org - Boston-area organization that assists with bond resources for New England detainees including those from Connecticut held at Plymouth.

Community fundraising

Multiple Connecticut ICE cases in 2025 were resolved in part through community fundraising via social media. Hartford Deportation Defense has coordinated community support for specific detained individuals. Contact them for current emergency fund resources.

Step 5: Communication - Staying Connected

While Still in Connecticut (ICE Hartford Office)

The ICE Hartford office at 450 Main Street processes detainees briefly. This is a law enforcement processing location, not a visitation facility. Contact Hartford Deportation Defense or the NLG hotline immediately if you believe someone is in this stage - they may be able to intervene before transfer.

At Plymouth County Correctional Facility

Visiting in Person

Address: 26 Long Pond Road, Plymouth, MA 02360

All visitors must complete a pre-approval application before their first visit. Download the Pre-Approval Visitor Application from the Plymouth County Sheriff's website or call (508) 830-6200 for instructions. Processing the application takes time - apply immediately. Note: visitors approved annually; there are special summer provisions for previously approved visitors.

Visiting hours are organized by the detainee's last initial. BIJAN (beyondbondboston.org) publishes current hour breakdowns and tips for first-time visitors at Plymouth - check their resources page before traveling.

General visiting rules: Valid government-issued photo ID required; arrive 45 minutes before scheduled visit time; visits limited to 30 minutes; one visit per detainee per day; no more than once per week for public visitors; minors must be accompanied by parent or legal guardian; all social visits are non-contact; all visitors subject to search.

Phone Calls

Plymouth uses Securus Technologies for phone calls. Create an account at securustechnologies.com (or search 'Securus phone') to receive calls and set up a prepaid account. The detainee must put your name and phone number on their personal call list. If there are issues with call list access, call (508) 830-6200 and ask to speak to their ICE caseworker. Calls are monitored and recorded except for legal calls. Rate: approximately $0.14 per minute.

Free calls: ICE requires Plymouth to allow free calls to legal service providers on the posted pro bono list and to consular officials. Ask your family member to request the list.

Mail

Mailing address: [Detainee Full Name + A-Number], Plymouth County Correctional Facility, 26 Long Pond Road, Plymouth, MA 02360

All incoming mail is inspected. Letters, legal documents, and approved publications may be sent. BIJAN publishes guidance on mailing books and other approved items to Plymouth.

Sending Money

Money for commissary accounts is deposited through the Plymouth County Sheriff's approved platforms. Contact (508) 830-6200 or check BIJAN's resources page for current deposit methods.

Step 6: Your Rights Inside Detention

ICE detention is civil, not criminal. You have not been convicted of any crime by being held for immigration reasons. Plymouth County Correctional Facility, as an ICE detention facility, is required to comply with ICE Performance-Based National Detention Standards (PBNDS).

Do not sign anything without an attorney:

ICE officers frequently present detained people with documents to sign during or shortly after arrest. Signing a Voluntary Departure agreement or other documents without legal counsel can permanently affect your ability to return to the United States and waive important legal rights. Say clearly: 'I will not sign anything without speaking with a lawyer.' This is one of the most critical pieces of guidance for Connecticut detainees.

Key rights every detainee has:

The right to speak with an attorney. In civil immigration proceedings, there is no right to a government-appointed attorney, but you have the right to retain one and to make confidential calls to listed providers.

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 list.

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

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

To file a grievance:

Ask facility staff for a grievance form. Contact the DHS Office of Inspector General: oig.dhs.gov | 1-800-323-8603. Contact CIRI or the ACLU of Connecticut for support.

Consular access:

Under the Vienna Convention you have the right to contact your country's consulate. Calls to consulates are free under ICE standards. Ask staff for the consular contact list.

Quick Reference - Connecticut 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 Hartford Sub-Office: HAR.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov (Mon-Fri 8 AM-3:30 PM)

ICE Boston Field Office: Boston.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov | (781) 359-7660

Primary detention facility (Massachusetts):

Plymouth County Correctional Facility - 26 Long Pond Road, Plymouth, MA 02360 - (508) 830-6200

Legal help:

CIRI (statewide): cirict.org | Hartford: (860) 692-3085 | Bridgeport: (203) 336-0141 | Stamford: (203) 965-7190

Greater Hartford Legal Aid: ghla.org | (860) 541-5000

New Haven Legal Assistance: nhlaa.org

Hartford Deportation Defense: colectivodefensa.org

NLG Connecticut hotline: (203) 896-7221

Post bond (for Plymouth detainees):

ICE ERO Burlington, MA: 1000 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803 | (781) 359-7500 - Mon-Fri 9 AM-3 PM

Plymouth visitation support:

BIJAN: beyondbondboston.org - resources, visit guidance, and community support for Plymouth detainees

Phone at Plymouth:

Securus Technologies: securustechnologies.com

Sources and verification: CT Mirror, 'CT ICE Arrests Up Sharply in Trump's Second Term,' August 28, 2025 (405 arrests January-July 2025 vs. 173 same period 2024; 145 additional deportations, 237.7% increase; 348 transfers to out-of-state detention with 1,262 total transfers; Hartford Nicaraguan man transferred Plymouth -> Pine Prairie -> Guantanamo -> deportation; no criminal charges beyond immigration; Ecuador +284%, Guatemala +440% in arrests; Esdrás Wilbur Cross student detained July, transferred Louisiana, then New England after attorney intervened; New Britain car wash August 2025; Meriden senior and father detained June transferred Texas); CT Mirror, 'CT Officials: ICE Detention of Cheshire Student Is Un-American,' April 10-13, 2026 (Rihan Afghan student detained April 2026 Cheshire; father Zia detained July 2025 East Hartford appointment, held Plymouth 4 months; Rihan booked Plymouth by 1:22 PM same day as arrest; ICE Hartford cross into Massachusetts); Representative Larson denial of access, Burlington, MA, February 2, 2026 (concrete floors, no showers, ICE denied detention classification); Plymouth County ICE page (ice.gov; (508) 830-6200; Boston.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov; Jurislink.com attorney virtual visits; non-contact social visits; visitation by last initial; 45 minutes early; 30-minute limit; weekly for public); Plymouth bond posting: Burlington MA ICE ERO 1000 District Avenue Burlington MA 01803 (781) 359-7500 Mon-Fri 9 AM-3 PM; Plymouth phone Securus $0.14/min (BIJAN beyondbondboston.org resources page); ICE Hartford sub-office (ice.gov; HAR.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov; state of Connecticut coverage; Mon-Fri 8 AM-3:30 PM); CIRI (cirict.org; Hartford 175 Main St 2nd Floor (860) 692-3085; Bridgeport 670 Clinton Ave (203) 336-0141; Stamford 34 Woodland Ave (203) 965-7190; DOJ recognized since 1918; BIA accredited); Hartford Deportation Defense (colectivodefensa.org; immigrant-led; Hartford area; mutual aid); NLG Connecticut (203) 896-7221; Strafford County 266 County Farm Rd Dover NH (603) 742-3310. Volatile items: Verify Plymouth visiting hours by last initial before traveling (hours change; call (508) 830-6200 or check BIJAN); verify Burlington MA ICE ERO bond posting hours; verify whether ICE has opened any Connecticut-based facility (none as of June 2026 but expansion plans nationally could affect this); verify Guantanamo transfer status (used for CT detainee in early 2025; status of this practice as of June 2026 uncertain). Last verified: June 2026.