This guide is for people detained by ICE in Delaware and for their families. Delaware has no dedicated ICE detention facility. People arrested by ICE in Delaware are transferred to detention facilities in Pennsylvania - most commonly the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Philipsburg, PA (the largest ICE detention center in the Northeast) or the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia. ICE arrests in Delaware increased from approximately 220 in 2024 to approximately 689 in 2025 - more than tripling. Delaware falls under the ICE Philadelphia Field Office, which covers Delaware, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Governor Matt Meyer has actively resisted some aspects of federal immigration enforcement, and Delaware legislation to limit courthouse arrests and private detention facilities was advancing through the Legislature in 2026. 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 - check daily if needed. Try spelling variants if the initial search returns nothing.
ICE Detention Reporting and Information Line: 1-888-351-4024 (toll-free)
EOIR Immigration Court Case Status: 1-800-898-7180
ICE Philadelphia Field Office (covers Delaware): Philadelphia.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov | (215) 656-7164
Note: If you are not a U.S. citizen and are calling ICE yourself to locate a family member, be aware that ICE records information about callers. It may be safer to have a U.S. citizen family member or attorney make the call.
Consulate contact: ICE is required to notify the consulate of the arrested person's home country within 72 hours of arrest in many cases. You can also call the consulate directly to ask about a detained family member's whereabouts.
Step 2: Where ICE Detainees Are Held
No Dedicated ICE Facility in Delaware
Delaware has no dedicated long-term ICE detention facility. People arrested by ICE anywhere in Delaware are held briefly - sometimes at local law enforcement facilities under ICE detainer - before transfer to Pennsylvania facilities. The two primary destinations are the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in rural central Pennsylvania and the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia.
Moshannon Valley Processing Center - Primary Transfer Destination
555 GEO Drive, Philipsburg, PA 16866
Detainee inquiries: (814) 768-1200 (8 AM-4 PM)
Urgent messages: (814) 768-1200
ICE case information email: Philadelphia.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov
Operated by: GEO Group under contract with ICE via Clearfield County
Capacity: approximately 1,876-1,878 beds
Tablets: ICE Talton Tablets available - messaging via gettingout.com
Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania is the largest ICE detention center in the Northeastern United States and the primary long-term holding facility for ICE detainees from Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, and the surrounding region. Most people arrested by ICE from New York to Maryland pass through this facility. It is located in rural central Pennsylvania, more than 100 miles from Philadelphia and more than 200 miles from Wilmington - a significant distance for Delaware families attempting to visit.
The facility has been documented to have serious conditions concerns. Reporting by The Philadelphia Inquirer in September 2025 described violence among detainees occurring with enough regularity that some detainees slept in their shoes in case they needed to run. State police responded to the facility 38 times between January 2024 and March 2025, with nearly half of visits responding to assaults. Phone calls cost approximately $3 for 20 minutes; commissary items cost significantly more than outside prices. Phone calls, emails through tablets, books, and videos all require payment. ICE immigration court proceedings for Moshannon detainees are typically heard at the Elizabeth, NJ immigration court.
Federal Detention Center Philadelphia (FDC Philadelphia)
700 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Detainee inquiries: (215) 521-4000
ICE case information email: PHL-ExecAssistant-S@bop.gov (for case information) | Philadelphia.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov (for ICE matters)
Operated by: Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) - ICE began placing detainees here in February 2025
Maximum ICE beds: approximately 125
Electronic messaging: TRULINCS system - families register at corrlinks.com
FDC Philadelphia is a federal prison in Center City Philadelphia that began holding ICE immigration detainees in February 2025. A congressional visit in January 2026 documented that ICE detainees are held in conditions identical to federal criminal prisoners - same uniforms, same cell types, same protocols. The member of Congress who visited described it as being treated 'the same as federal prisoners' despite the fact that most ICE detainees have no criminal record. As of late 2025, the facility was holding approximately 60-94 ICE detainees daily in a section dedicated to ICE custody with a maximum of 125 beds.
Step 3: Get Legal Help
Delaware has limited immigration legal infrastructure compared to its neighboring states. For detention and removal defense specifically - the most urgent need after an ICE arrest - the primary resources are in Philadelphia, which is the regional hub for the ICE Philadelphia Field Office. Contact Philadelphia-area organizations immediately for detention cases.
Community Legal Aid Society of Delaware (CLASI)
declasi.org | Main intake: 1-302-575-0660
Wilmington: 100 W. 10th Street, Suite 801, Wilmington, DE 19801
Dover: Kent County office
Georgetown: Sussex County office
CLASI is Delaware's primary free civil legal aid organization and provides immigration legal services to Delaware residents. CLASI's immigration services focus on: U Visa petitions for survivors of crime; T Visa petitions for trafficking survivors; VAWA self-petitions; Special Immigrant Juvenile Status; DACA renewals and TPS renewals through its Medical-Legal Partnership. CLASI's immigration unit does not specialize in detention and removal defense but can provide referrals to organizations that do. Call CLASI first to identify the right resource for your situation.
Nationalities Service Center (NSC) - Philadelphia
nscphiladelphia.org | (215) 893-8400
Philadelphia-based nonprofit providing comprehensive immigration legal services including detention and removal defense. One of the primary resources for detention cases in the Philadelphia ICE Field Office region, which includes Delaware.
Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition (PICC)
paimmigrant.org - Statewide Pennsylvania immigration advocacy coalition coordinating legal resources and rapid response. Can help connect Delaware families to detention legal resources in the Philadelphia area.
HIAS Pennsylvania
hiaspa.org | Philadelphia - Provides free and low-cost immigration legal services including representation for detained individuals in the Philadelphia region.
Juntos
vamosjuntos.org | Philadelphia - Immigrant-led organization that provides rapid response support and community resources for people detained by ICE in the Philadelphia region, including Delaware.
New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia
sanctuaryphiladelphia.org - Interfaith organization active in supporting detained immigrants and their families in the Philadelphia ICE region.
ACLU of Delaware
aclu-de.org | Wilmington - Civil liberties advocacy; contact if there are civil rights concerns about the circumstances of an arrest or conditions of detention in Delaware.
EOIR Pro Bono List
Moshannon Valley Processing Center and FDC Philadelphia are required to post pro bono legal service provider lists in housing units. Ask your family member to request the list and to use the free calls available to contact legal help. Note: The federal government ended the Legal Orientation Program (LOP) in 2025, which had provided free legal information sessions inside detention facilities. Verify current access to legal information directly with the facility.
Immigration Advocates Network
immigrationadvocates.org - National searchable directory; search by Delaware, or by Pennsylvania (Philadelphia or Philipsburg zip code 16866) for resources near the detention facility.
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. Not everyone is eligible - mandatory detention applies in some cases. Delaware cases handled at Philadelphia or Elizabeth, NJ immigration courts.
Where to Post Bond for Delaware Detainees
Bond cannot be posted at Moshannon Valley or FDC Philadelphia directly. For detainees in either facility, immigration bond is posted at the ICE Philadelphia Field Office:
ICE ERO Philadelphia: 114 North 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | (215) 656-7164
Confirm current hours before visiting - typically Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays.
Payment: Money order, cashier's check, or certified check payable to 'Department of Homeland Security' or 'Immigration and Customs Enforcement.' For bonds $5,000 and over, a single cashier's check or certified check is required. Bring the detainee's full name, A-Number, and bond order from the immigration judge.
Moshannon Valley also accepts bond payment directly at the facility per its ICE page - confirm this option by calling (814) 768-1200 before traveling. Acceptable forms: money orders, cashier's checks, or certified checks payable to 'U.S. Department of Homeland Security' or 'Immigration and Customs Enforcement.'
A licensed immigration bond agent can post bond electronically for a fee of 2%-20%, avoiding travel to Philadelphia.
Bond Funds
National Immigrant Bond Fund
immigrantbondfund.org - National fund that posts bond for detained immigrants; requires family contribution.
Vera Institute - SAFE Network
vera.org - Check for current availability in the Philadelphia region.
Community fundraising
Contact Juntos (vamosjuntos.org) or the Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition (paimmigrant.org) for information on current emergency bond funds and mutual aid resources for the Philadelphia region.
Step 5: Communication - Staying Connected
At Moshannon Valley Processing Center
Moshannon is located in rural central Pennsylvania, more than 100 miles from Philadelphia. In-person visits are logistically challenging from Delaware. Plan carefully.
Visiting in Person
555 GEO Drive, Philipsburg, PA 16866 (approximately 3.5 hours from Wilmington, DE)
Visitation requires advance registration. Contact the facility at (814) 768-1200 for current visiting schedule and registration requirements. Confirm hours before traveling - a long drive to a facility with confusing rules can result in being turned away. Bring valid government-issued photo ID. All visits are subject to search. Undergarments with underwire are not allowed in the facility.
Phone Calls
Phone system: GTL/ConnectNetwork. Set up a prepaid account at connectnetwork.com to receive calls. Calls cost approximately $3 for 20 minutes. Detainees cannot receive incoming calls. Calls are monitored and recorded except for legal calls.
Electronic Messages and Tablets
ICE Talton Tablets are available at Moshannon. Send messages through gettingout.com. Messaging, books, and entertainment through tablets all require payment by the detainee.
Mailing address: [Detainee Full Name + A-Number], Moshannon Valley Processing Center, 555 GEO Drive, Philipsburg, PA 16866
Reference the detainee's name on any money order sent by mail. Do not send cash. All incoming mail is subject to inspection.
Sending Money
Access Corrections: 1-866-345-1884 | accesscorrections.com - to deposit funds into commissary account. Can also mail money order to facility address, referencing detainee name.
At FDC Philadelphia
Visiting
700 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106 - In-person visits require the detainee to place you on their visitor list and BOP to clear you. Review BOP visitor rules at bop.gov before visiting. All visits subject to search; no electronic devices in secure areas.
Electronic Messaging
TRULINCS system - register at corrlinks.com to send and receive electronic messages with ICE detainees at FDC Philadelphia.
Include the last four digits of the detainee's A-Number (File Number) plus sender's name and address. Mail to: [Detainee Full Name, Last 4 of A-Number], FDC Philadelphia, 700 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Step 6: Delaware Context - What Families Should Know
Delaware's political environment has been notably resistant to aggressive ICE enforcement. Governor Matt Meyer actively contested a federal subpoena for business payroll records in 2025 in a court dispute that remained under seal. The Delaware House passed legislation in 2026 banning civil ICE arrests at courthouses and at Department of Labor offices, which was advancing to the Senate. A companion bill regulating private detention facilities was also advancing. These legislative developments do not change federal enforcement authority but signal the state's posture.
Delaware has significant immigrant communities, particularly in Sussex County (Rehoboth Beach area agricultural and service industries), New Castle County (Wilmington), and Kent County (Dover). ICE enforcement in Delaware has included workplace operations - in 2025, federal authorities subpoenaed payroll records from 15 Delaware businesses suspected of employing undocumented workers. This workplace enforcement risk is distinct from street arrests and requires different planning. If you receive notice of a workplace I-9 inspection or subpoena, contact an immigration attorney immediately.
Key rights every detainee has:
The right to speak with an attorney. Free calls to listed legal service providers are required by ICE standards.
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 access a law library and legal materials.
The right to file a grievance if your rights are violated.
The right to communicate with your home country's consulate (free calls required).
Do not sign any document without speaking with an attorney first - including Voluntary Departure agreements.
To file a grievance:
Request a grievance form from facility staff. Contact the DHS Inspector General: oig.dhs.gov | 1-800-323-8603. Contact CLASI or ACLU of Delaware if concerned about the circumstances of arrest.
Quick Reference - Delaware 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 Philadelphia Field Office (covers Delaware): Philadelphia.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov | (215) 656-7164
Primary detention facilities (Pennsylvania):
Moshannon Valley Processing Center - 555 GEO Drive, Philipsburg, PA 16866 - (814) 768-1200
FDC Philadelphia - 700 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106 - (215) 521-4000
Legal help:
CLASI (Delaware): declasi.org | 1-302-575-0660 | Wilmington, Dover, Georgetown
Nationalities Service Center (Philadelphia): nscphiladelphia.org | (215) 893-8400
HIAS Pennsylvania (Philadelphia): hiaspa.org
Juntos (Philadelphia rapid response): vamosjuntos.org
Post bond:
ICE ERO Philadelphia: 114 N. 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | (215) 656-7164
Or directly at Moshannon Valley (call (814) 768-1200 to confirm)
Communication - Moshannon Valley:
Phone: GTL/ConnectNetwork - connectnetwork.com
Messaging/tablets: gettingout.com
Money: Access Corrections - accesscorrections.com | 1-866-345-1884
Communication - FDC Philadelphia:
Electronic messages: TRULINCS / corrlinks.com
Sources and verification: WHYY, 'Delaware Moves to Block ICE Courthouse Arrests, Limit Detention Ties,' April 9-16, 2026 (689 Delaware ICE arrests in 2025 vs. 220 in 2024; House passed courthouse civil arrest ban 25-13; bill to regulate private detention modeled on Illinois law; Rep. Mara Gorman; no reported courthouse arrests in Delaware; bill advancing to Senate as of April 2026); WHYY, 'ICE Targets 15 Delaware Businesses Suspected of Employing Undocumented Immigrants,' August 8, 2025 (April subpoena for payroll records; Gov. Meyer opposing; U.S. District Court Wilmington; HSI agent Kimberly Caraway; Philadelphia and Baltimore County also listed; records under seal); WHYY, 'ICE Latest: What Agreements Are in Place in Philly, Its Suburbs, New Jersey and Delaware?' March 12, 2026 (Philadelphia Field Office covers Delaware; Moshannon and FDC Philadelphia as primary detention facilities; Chester County cooperates; Haverford Township, Upper Darby limiting cooperation; 70%+ ICE detainees no criminal record per TRAC); Philadelphia Inquirer, 'Trump's ICE Detentions Hit Record High at Moshannon Valley Processing Center,' September 2025 (1,876 capacity largest Northeast; most New York to Maryland detainees pass through; 75 men 3 toilets 6 showers; J.B. quote on Delaware vs. Moshannon; $3/20-min call; commissary 3x outside prices; tablet email requires payment; police 38 visits January 2024-March 2025 half for assaults; 2022 DHS memo MS-13 allegations; sleeping in shoes; Chaofeng Ge; Velasquez Venezuela; bond releases fell by half April-July per Deportation Data Project); ICE Moshannon Valley page (ice.gov; (814) 768-1200; Philadelphia.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov; Talton Tablets gettingout.com; money via Access Corrections 1-866-345-1884 or accesscorrections.com; mailing 555 GEO Drive Philipsburg PA 16866; bond payment at facility - money orders, cashier's checks certified checks $5k+ single check); ICE FDC Philadelphia page (ice.gov; (215) 521-4000; PHL-ExecAssistant-S@bop.gov; Philadelphia.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov; TRULINCS corrlinks.com; 125 max ICE beds; February 2025 opened for ICE; BOP visitor rules; mail includes last 4 A-number digits); Philadelphia Citizen, 'How to Help Philadelphians Detained by ICE,' May 2026 (2,000+ detained in PA April 2026; LOP ended 2025; Moshannon 100+ miles from nonprofit immigration attorneys; ICE ERO Philadelphia 114 N 18th St (215) 656-7164; consulate 72-hour notification requirement; TRULINCS/Corrlinks for FDC); WHYY, 'Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon Says ICE Detainees Treated Like Federal Prisoners at Philadelphia Detention Center,' January 30, 2026 (60-80 ICE detainees nightly; 94 average as of Nov 28, 2025; 125 max beds; two-bunk cells, prison uniforms, metal detectors; difficulty obtaining legal, medical, translation services; Scanlon D-Delaware Fifth District); CLASI website (declasi.org; immigration services: U Visa, T Visa, SIJS, VAWA, DACA, TPS; Medical-Legal Partnership; Wilmington Dover Georgetown offices; 1-302-575-0660; immigration@declasi.org); Wikipedia Moshannon Valley (1,878 capacity; GEO Group; Clearfield County contract November 2021-November 2026; Elizabeth NJ immigration court). Volatile items: Verify Moshannon Valley contract renewal status (November 2026 expiration; Clearfield County commissioners vote pending); verify FDC Philadelphia current ICE bed count and operations (significantly expanded February 2025; population changing); verify Delaware courthouse arrest bill final status (passed House April 2026; Senate status as of June 2026); verify Philadelphia ICE ERO address and hours; verify current visiting procedures at Moshannon Valley. Last verified: June 2026.