This guide is for people detained by ICE in Georgia and for their families. Georgia consistently ranks among the top 5 states in the country for detained immigrant populations. Three major ICE detention facilities - Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Folkston ICE Processing Center in Folkston, and Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla - are all located in rural areas far from Atlanta, making family visits and access to legal help extremely difficult. As of 2025, the Folkston facility was expanding to become the largest ICE detention center in the United States, with capacity planned to reach nearly 3,000 detainees. Atlanta Immigration Court has historically one of the lowest asylum grant rates in the country. Over 90% of unrepresented detainees in Georgia are ordered removed. Having an attorney is critical. The Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network (GAIN) and GLAHR hotline are the primary free legal resources for detained people in Georgia. There is only one ICE ERO office in all of Georgia where immigration bond can be posted: Atlanta. 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, found on any immigration paperwork). 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 Atlanta Field Office: Atlanta.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov | (404) 893-1210
Stewart Detention Center detainee line: (229) 838-5000 (8 AM-4 PM)
Folkston ICE Processing Center detainee line: (912) 496-6905 (8 AM-4 PM)
GLAHR Hotline (Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights): (770) 457-5232 - Monday through Friday, 9 AM-5 PM. GLAHR receives 50-100 calls per week from immigrant families and can provide referrals and information for people in detention.
If your family member was arrested but does not yet appear in the ICE locator, they may still be in a county jail under an ICE detainer. Contact the county sheriff's office where the arrest occurred, and contact GLAHR or GAIN immediately. Most counties in Georgia cooperate with ICE under 287(g) agreements, so any arrest in Georgia can lead to immigration detention.
Step 2: Where ICE Detainees Are Held in Georgia
Georgia's three major detention facilities are among the largest ICE detention centers in the country. All three are in rural areas far from Atlanta, making them deliberately remote from legal resources, family support, and community networks. Georgia also holds some ICE detainees at FCI Atlanta and the Robert A. Deyton Detention Facility.
Stewart Detention Center - Lumpkin (Southwest Georgia)
146 CCA Road, P.O. Box 248, Lumpkin, GA 31815
Detainee inquiries: (229) 838-5000 (8 AM-4 PM)
ICE Atlanta Field Office: (404) 893-1210
Case information email: Atlanta.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov
Operated by: CoreCivic under contract with ICE
Tablets: Available - send messages via gettingout.com
Stewart Detention Center is one of the largest ICE detention centers in the country and historically the second-busiest. It is located in Lumpkin, Georgia, a small rural town in southwest Georgia with no library, no doctor's offices, and no grocery stores. More people are detained in Stewart than live in Lumpkin. The facility has operated continuously since 2006. Immigration court hearings for Stewart detainees are held at the Atlanta Immigration Court (often by video from the facility). Bond cannot be posted at Stewart - see Step 4.
Visiting: Monday-Thursday 8 AM-4 PM (no one processed after 2:30 PM); Friday-Sunday 8 AM-8 PM (no one processed after 6:30 PM); includes federal holidays. One visit per week per detainee, up to one hour, non-contact. Up to two adults and two minor children at a time. Visitors must leave all personal items (cell phones, purses, wallets) secured in vehicles. Government-issued photo ID required. Minors must be accompanied by adults 18 or older.
Phone: Facility phone services - contact (229) 838-5000 for current provider and rates.
Mail: [Detainee Full Name + A-Number], Stewart Detention Center, 146 CCA Road, P.O. Box 248, Lumpkin, GA 31815
Folkston ICE Processing Center - Folkston (Southeast Georgia)
3026 Highway 252 East, P.O. Box 248, Folkston, GA 31537
Detainee inquiries: (912) 496-6905 (8 AM-4 PM)
Case information email: Folkston.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov
Operated by: GEO Group under contract with ICE
Folkston ICE Processing Center is located 10 miles north of the Florida state line in Charlton County, one of the most economically impoverished counties in Georgia. In June 2025, Charlton County approved a nearly $50 million agreement to expand the facility from approximately 1,100 beds to nearly 3,000 - making it the planned largest ICE detention center in the United States. The expansion incorporates the adjacent D. Ray James Correctional Facility. A 2022 DHS Inspector General report cited 'unsanitary and dilapidated' conditions at Folkston - water leaks, mold, insect infestations, inoperable toilets, no hot meals - with the OIG stating the facility 'did not meet standards for facility conditions, medical care, grievances, segregation, staff-detainee communications, and handling of detainee property.' A documented death occurred in 2024 (Jaspal Singh, an Indian national, after nine months in detention).
Mail: [Detainee Full Name + A-Number], Folkston ICE Processing Center, P.O. Box 248, Folkston, GA 31537
For money: Cashier's check or money order must include detainee's full name and A-Number.
Irwin County Detention Center - Ocilla (South-Central Georgia)
132 Kim Wardlaw Lane, Ocilla, GA 31774
Phone: Contact ICE Atlanta Field Office: (404) 893-1210
Operated by: LaSalle Corrections under contract with ICE
Irwin County Detention Center was closed following multiple allegations of medical abuse - including a 2020 whistleblower report alleging that a physician performed unauthorized gynecological procedures on detained women without consent, resulting in significant Congressional investigation and national attention. The facility subsequently resumed operations. It continues to hold ICE detainees. If a family member is at Irwin County, contact an attorney or the SPLC Southeast Immigrant Freedom Initiative immediately.
FCI Atlanta (Federal Correctional Institution)
601 McDonough Boulevard SE, Atlanta, GA 30315
Phone: (404) 893-1290
Case information email: atl-ICECorrespondence@bop.gov
Operated by: Federal Bureau of Prisons under agreement with ICE
Electronic messaging: TRULINCS - register at corrlinks.com
FCI Atlanta is a federal prison in Atlanta that holds some ICE immigration detainees. Attorney visits require advance scheduling by email to ATL-JailAdministrator-S@bop.gov with subject line 'Legal visit request for inmate [full name], [BOP Register Number].' Detainees must place visitors on their BOP visitor list and BOP must clear them before visiting.
Robert A. Deyton Detention Facility - Lovejoy
11866 Hastings Bridge Road, Lovejoy, GA 30250
Phone: Contact ICE Atlanta Field Office: (404) 893-1210
Located in Lovejoy, Georgia, south of Atlanta. Contact the Atlanta ICE Field Office for current visiting and communication procedures.
Step 3: Get Legal Help - This Is the Critical Step in Georgia
Georgia's immigration court system is one of the most challenging in the country for detained immigrants. Over 90% of unrepresented detainees in Georgia are ordered removed. Having an attorney dramatically changes outcomes - represented detainees are twice as likely to obtain relief nationally, and in Georgia's tough jurisdiction, the difference is even more pronounced. Free legal help is scarce given the scale of detention; contact these organizations immediately.
Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network (GAIN)
gain-legal.org | Atlanta
GAIN is an Atlanta-based nonprofit providing free legal services to immigrants, including those detained in Georgia. GAIN's director of legal services has described the average uncomplicated asylum case as requiring 50-75 hours of attorney work - underscoring why free legal help is so critical in a system where most detainees cannot afford counsel. GAIN is one of only a handful of organizations in the state providing free legal services to detained immigrants.
GLAHR - Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights
glahr.org | Hotline: (770) 457-5232 - Monday through Friday, 9 AM-5 PM
GLAHR provides a hotline specifically for immigrant families facing detention, mistreatment, or abuse by employers, police, or ICE. They receive 50-100 calls per week and provide information and referrals for people in detention at Georgia ICE facilities. Call GLAHR first if you don't know where to start.
Southern Poverty Law Center - Southeast Immigrant Freedom Initiative (SIFI)
splcenter.org - The SPLC's Southeast Immigrant Freedom Initiative provides pro bono legal representation to immigrants in detention across the Southeast, including Georgia's remote facilities. They maintain presence at Georgia detention centers. Contact SIFI for representation especially at Irwin County Detention Center given its documented history.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta
advancingjustice-atlanta.org | (404) 890-5655 | Monday-Friday 9 AM-5 PM
Provides immigration legal services and civil rights advocacy in Georgia and the Southeast, including detention representation. Serves Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian communities.
Project South
projectsouth.org | Atlanta - Civil rights organization providing community education, advocacy, and legal referrals for detained immigrants in Georgia.
Atlanta Legal Aid Society
atlantalegalaid.org - Free civil legal services for low-income people in the Atlanta area, including some immigration matters. Contact to determine eligibility for detention cases.
EOIR Pro Bono List
Each Georgia ICE facility is required to post a pro bono legal service list in housing units and allow free calls to listed providers. Ask your family member to request this list and call providers on it. Stewart Detention Center has tablets for messaging through gettingout.com.
Migrant Equity Southeast
migrantequitysoutheast.org | Savannah area - Provides advocacy and support for immigrants in the Savannah and southeast Georgia area, which is the primary community from which Folkston receives detainees.
Immigration Advocates Network
immigrationadvocates.org - National searchable directory; search by Georgia city or county.
Step 4: Bond - How to Get Someone Released
Bond allows a detained person to be released from ICE custody while their immigration case continues. Georgia's Atlanta Immigration Court handles bond hearings for detainees at Stewart, Folkston, and Irwin, often by video from the facility itself. Georgia immigration judges have a reputation for setting high bond amounts - $10,000 or more is common. Not everyone is eligible - mandatory detention applies in some cases. Having an attorney at the bond hearing significantly increases the chance of getting bond set and the amount being reasonable.
There is only ONE bond posting location in Georgia:
ICE ERO Atlanta: 180 Ted Turner Drive SW, 3rd Floor, Room 337, Atlanta, GA 30303 | (404) 893-1224
Bond posting hours: Monday through Friday (except federal holidays), 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Payment: Cashier's check, money order, 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.
None of Georgia's ICE detention facilities - not Stewart, Folkston, Irwin, or any other - accept bond payments at the facility. All bonds must be posted at the Atlanta ICE ERO or through a licensed bond agent.
A licensed immigration bond agent can post bond electronically for 2%-10% of the bond amount, avoiding the need to travel to Atlanta.
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 current availability in Georgia.
Community fundraising and mutual aid
Contact GLAHR or Project South for information on current local bond assistance funds or mutual aid networks for Georgia immigrant families.
Step 5: Communication - Staying Connected Across Georgia's Distances
All three major Georgia ICE facilities are in rural areas far from Atlanta and most of Georgia's immigrant communities. Stewart is approximately 2.5 hours southwest of Atlanta. Folkston is approximately 4.5 hours southeast of Atlanta near the Florida border. Irwin County is approximately 3 hours south of Atlanta. Plan visits carefully - travel time is significant. WABE reporting has documented that a Georgia town with no hotels near Stewart has volunteer groups that house visiting families. Contact GAIN or GLAHR for guidance on lodging near facilities.
Stewart Detention Center
Visiting: Monday-Thursday 8 AM-4 PM, no processing after 2:30 PM; Friday-Sunday 8 AM-8 PM, no processing after 6:30 PM; one visit per week, one hour, non-contact. Leave all personal items in vehicle.
Tablets: Available - send messages through gettingout.com
Mail: [Name + A-Number], Stewart Detention Center, 146 CCA Road, P.O. Box 248, Lumpkin, GA 31815
Folkston ICE Processing Center
Visiting: Contact (912) 496-6905 for current visitation schedule and registration requirements.
Mail: [Name + A-Number], Folkston ICE Processing Center, P.O. Box 248, Folkston, GA 31537
Money: Cashier's check or money order with detainee's full name and A-Number to mailing address.
Irwin County Detention Center
Visiting: Contact the Atlanta ICE Field Office at (404) 893-1210 for current visiting hours and registration requirements.
Mail: [Name + A-Number], Irwin County Detention Center, 132 Kim Wardlaw Lane, Ocilla, GA 31774
Step 6: What Families Must Know About Georgia's Legal Environment
Georgia's immigration detention system has several characteristics that families must understand to advocate effectively.
Atlanta Immigration Court has among the lowest asylum grant rates in the country. Cases are difficult even with experienced representation. Don't delay getting legal help - every day without an attorney in detention is a step toward a removal order.
Over 90% of unrepresented detainees in Georgia are ordered removed. The American Immigration Council found that represented immigrants are twice as likely to obtain relief nationally; Georgia's numbers may be even more stark. Seeking free legal help through GAIN, GLAHR, or SIFI is the highest-priority action.
42% of ICE arrests in Georgia in 2025-2026 involve people with no criminal conviction. Long-term residents, parents, and business owners are being detained - not just people with criminal records.
The remote location of Georgia's facilities is a structural barrier. Folkston is farther from Atlanta than many cities in neighboring states. Attorneys and families face multi-hour drives for visits. Video hearings from inside the facilities create practical challenges for people representing themselves.
Irwin County's documented history requires extra vigilance. Given the 2020 whistleblower report and subsequent investigations into medical abuse at Irwin, families should monitor any health-related concerns at that facility with extra urgency and contact an attorney or the SPLC SIFI immediately.
Do not sign anything without an attorney:
ICE may pressure detained people to sign Voluntary Departure or stipulated removal orders. Signing can waive critical legal rights and affect ability to return. Say: 'I will not sign anything without speaking with a lawyer first.'
Key rights every detainee has:
The right to speak with an attorney. Free calls to pro bono providers on the posted list 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).
To report abuse or file a complaint:
DHS Inspector General: oig.dhs.gov | 1-800-323-8603
SPLC Southeast Immigrant Freedom Initiative: splcenter.org
GLAHR: (770) 457-5232
Quick Reference - Georgia 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 Atlanta Field Office: Atlanta.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov | (404) 893-1210
GLAHR Hotline (first call for families):
(770) 457-5232 - Monday-Friday 9 AM-5 PM
Primary detention facilities:
Stewart Detention Center (Lumpkin): 146 CCA Road - (229) 838-5000
Folkston ICE Processing Center (Folkston): 3026 Hwy 252 East - (912) 496-6905
Irwin County Detention Center (Ocilla): 132 Kim Wardlaw Lane - call Atlanta Field Office
FCI Atlanta: 601 McDonough Blvd SE, Atlanta - (404) 893-1290
Robert A. Deyton (Lovejoy): 11866 Hastings Bridge Road - call Atlanta Field Office
Free legal help:
GAIN: gain-legal.org
GLAHR: glahr.org | (770) 457-5232
SPLC Southeast Immigrant Freedom Initiative: splcenter.org
Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta: advancingjustice-atlanta.org | (404) 890-5655
Post bond - ONE location for all of Georgia:
ICE ERO Atlanta: 180 Ted Turner Drive SW, 3rd Floor, Rm 337, Atlanta, GA 30303 | (404) 893-1224 - Monday-Friday 9 AM-3 PM
Medical emergencies / abuse reports:
SPLC SIFI: splcenter.org
DHS Inspector General: oig.dhs.gov | 1-800-323-8603
Sources and verification: WABE, 'Georgia's Immigration Detention System and the People It Affects,' November 12, 2025 (three facilities Stewart Folkston Irwin; Irwin closed after abuse allegations and resumed; Folkston expanding; Stewart second-busiest in country; Lumpkin has no library no doctor no grocery stores; more detainees than residents; hard to find attorneys; attorney visit important for mental health; volunteer housing groups near Stewart); WABE, 'As Immigration Detention in Georgia Grows, Access to Free Attorneys Shrinks,' November 2025 (42% Georgia ICE arrests no criminal conviction; GAIN legal services director Adriana Heffley quote on 50-75 hours per case; one of handful of attorneys whose sole job is free legal services to detained immigrants; over 90% unrepresented ordered removed; American Immigration Council represented detainees twice as likely to obtain relief; Samantha Hamilton Asian Americans Advancing Justice Atlanta; Alma Bowman case; women sleeping on floor at Stewart); NPR, 'In Folkston, Ga., ICE Detainees Will Soon Outnumber Residents,' October 13, 2025 (GEO Group; expanding to 3,000+ detainees; Charlton County 10 miles from Florida border; Savannah Hamilton attorney quote; past OIG delinquent; Jaspal Singh death after 9 months); Capital B News / AJC, 'Georgia to Open Nation's Largest ICE Facility,' August 7, 2025 (Charlton County $50 million agreement June 2025; expansion from 1,100 to nearly 3,000; One Big Beautiful Bill funding; D. Ray James facility incorporated; 2022 DHS OIG report 'unsanitary and dilapidated' mold water leaks insect infestations no hot showers inoperable toilets no hot meals; failed standards for facility conditions, medical care, grievances, segregation, staff-detainee communications, detainee property); Jarrett Price law firm, 'ICE Detention in Georgia: A 2026 Guide,' February 27, 2026 (42% no criminal conviction; Atlanta Immigration Court some of lowest asylum grant rates nationwide; 90%+ unrepresented ordered removed; bond often $10,000+; Atlanta Immigration Court handles Stewart Folkston Irwin on detained docket); ICE Stewart page (ice.gov; 146 CCA Road Lumpkin GA 31815; (229) 838-5000; Atlanta Field Office (404) 893-1210; Monday-Thursday 8 AM-4 PM no processing after 2:30; Friday-Sunday 8 AM-8 PM no processing after 6:30; one visit per week one hour non-contact; tablets gettingout.com); ICE Folkston page (ice.gov; 3026 Hwy 252 East PO Box 248 Folkston GA 31537; (912) 496-6905; Folkston.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov; mail clerk (912) 496-6905 ext 76741; money order cashier check with name and A-Number); ICE FCI Atlanta page (ice.gov; 601 McDonough Blvd SE Atlanta 30315; (404) 893-1290; atl-ICECorrespondence@bop.gov; ATL-JailAdministrator-S@bop.gov for legal visits; TRULINCS corrlinks.com; (404) 635-5100 supervisory deportation officer); Georgia bond posting (cfiaus.com; one ICE ERO location in Georgia: 180 Ted Turner Drive SW 3rd Floor Rm 337 Atlanta GA 30303 (404) 893-1224; none of Georgia's facilities accepts bond on-site); GLAHR (glahr.org; (770) 457-5232; Monday-Friday 9 AM-5 PM; 50-100 calls per week; referrals and information for detained); Georgia Budget and Policy Institute report (GLAHR, SPLC SIFI, GAIN, Project South listed as Georgia detention support organizations); Irwin County documented history (2020 whistleblower report unauthorized gynecological procedures; Congressional investigation; facility subsequently resumed operations); Migrant Equity Southeast (savannah area; Statesboro detainee transferred to Folkston case). Volatile items: Verify Folkston expansion status and timeline (contract signed June 2025; expansion to ~3,000 beds; construction pace uncertain as of June 2026); verify Irwin County current operational status (resumed after closure; verify it remains active); verify Robert A. Deyton current operational status; verify Stewart visiting hours (check before traveling; hours can change); verify Folkston visiting hours (contact (912) 496-6905). Last verified: June 2026.