IAH - ICE is for US Immigration & Customs Enforcement-ICE offenders have not been sentenced yet and are detained here until their case is heard.
All prisons and jails have Security or Custody levels depending on the inmate’s classification, sentence, and criminal history. Please review the rules and regulations for Medium facility.
The phone carrier is NCIC Inmate Telephone Services, to see their rates and best-calling plans for your inmate to call you.
If you are seeking to send your inmate money for commissary, one recommended for this facility is CorrectSolutions There is a fee for sending money, see their rates and limitations.
If you are unsure of your inmate's location, you can search and locate your inmate by typing in their last name, first name or first initial, and/or the offender ID number to get their accurate information immediately Registered Offenders
The IAH Polk Adult Detention Facility (ICE) - MTC is a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility located at 3400 FM 350 S in Livingston, TX in Polk County. This medium-security facility is operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and functions as a holding center for immigration detainees awaiting trial, deportation, or serving sentences following conviction.
To find an ICE inmate, please use the Detainee Locator System with the A-Number search being the most efficient method. The A-number must be exactly nine digits; if shorter, zeros should be added at the beginning. When searching by name, the first and last names must be entered as an exact match, and the detainee's correct country of birth must be selected. Please note that records of individuals under 18 cannot be searched.
Detainees at this facility are assigned to housing based on their custody level, determined by various factors including sentence length and criminal history. The detention center provides a wide range of educational and vocational training programs. Additionally, the facility is equipped to meet most detainee needs, including dietary, health, fitness, education, religious practices, and entertainment. As a privately operated facility, it undergoes frequent inspections to ensure it remains in top condition, maintaining a clean record to secure ongoing government contracts.
The IAH Polk Adult Detention Facility, also known as the IAH Secure Adult Detention Facility, is a major immigration detention center located in Livingston, Texas, about 75 miles north of Houston. Operated by Management & Training Corporation under contract with the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the facility houses adult ICE detainees awaiting immigration hearings, asylum proceedings, deportation actions, or transfer within the federal detention system. Public ICE detention records and facility disclosures identify the detention center as having an operational capacity of approximately 1,052 detainees. The facility is currently overseen by Facility Administrator Alex Sanchez, who manages detention operations, inmate services, transportation coordination, security functions, and institutional administration throughout the complex.
Located along FM 350 South in Polk County, the detention center functions as a large multi-level security immigration detention facility specifically designed for federal immigration custody operations. The facility contains secure housing units, intake and booking sections, medical and mental health clinics, transportation staging areas, attorney visitation rooms, recreation spaces, dining operations, educational areas, and administrative offices supporting around-the-clock detention functions. ICE detainees held at the facility are generally processed through the Houston Immigration Court system, making the detention center one of the most active immigration detention hubs in southeast Texas. Tablets and electronic communication systems are also available for detainee messaging and legal coordination, reflecting the facility’s modernization efforts within the ICE detention network.
One distinguishing feature of the IAH Polk Adult Detention Facility is its long-standing role as one of ICE’s primary detention centers in Texas during periods of heightened immigration enforcement activity. The detention center became deeply integrated into federal detention operations because of its proximity to Houston, Interstate transportation corridors, and federal immigration court infrastructure. Management & Training Corporation has repeatedly emphasized educational programming, workforce development, and behavioral management programs inside the facility, while local officials have pointed to the center as an important economic driver for Polk County and surrounding communities. The detention center employs large numbers of correctional officers, medical personnel, transportation staff, counselors, and administrative employees supporting federal immigration detention operations.
ICE Detainee Information
This facility holds immigration detainees under an active contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in addition to its regular population. ICE detainees are civil immigration detainees, not criminal defendants, and are held while their immigration cases are processed. The rules, rights, and services that apply to ICE detainees differ from those that apply to the general jail population.
To locate an ICE detainee at this facility, use the ICE Online Detainee Locator at locator.ice.gov. You will need the detainee's A-Number, a nine-digit Alien Registration Number that appears on any immigration document they have received. If the A-Number has fewer than nine digits, add zeros at the beginning. If you do not have the A-Number, you can search using the detainee's full legal name, country of birth, and date of birth. Names must be an exact match; try variations if the first search returns no results.
Immigration bond works differently from criminal bail. Not all detainees are eligible for bond; those with certain criminal convictions or prior deportation orders may be subject to mandatory detention. For those who are eligible, bond is set by an immigration judge and typically ranges from $1,500 to over $10,000. Bond must be paid in full before release. An immigration attorney can request a bond hearing and argue for a lower amount based on the detainee's circumstances.
Unlike criminal defendants, ICE detainees do not have the right to a government-appointed attorney. They must hire a private immigration attorney or find free legal help through a nonprofit organization. RAICES provides legal services and bond assistance at raicestexas.org. The National Immigrant Justice Center offers free legal representation at immigrantjustice.org. Many immigration courts also maintain a list of free and low-cost legal service providers available to detainees upon request.
ICE transfers detainees between facilities frequently and with little advance notice, sometimes to locations far from family and legal counsel. If you cannot locate your family member through this page, search the ICE Online Detainee Locator again at locator.ice.gov with their A-Number. If they have an attorney, notify the attorney immediately as transfers affect court appearances and case timelines.
The jail is designed with "pods," featuring a large common area with affixed tables and attached seats, and individual cells typically on two levels. Inmates spend certain times in their cells and other times congregating in the pod for activities like playing cards, games, reading, or watching television. Movement outside the pod, such as trips to the commissary, library, or recreation area, occurs under the constant supervision of unarmed correctional officers.
The jail offers a phone program for outbound calls only, with inmates unable to receive incoming calls. Accepting collect calls can be expensive, sometimes exceeding $10 per call. Alternatively, setting up an account through a third-party phone company may entail high fees per minute of usage. Click here for discounts on inmate calls, especially if the communication with your inmate is frequent. It's important to remember that all phone calls are recorded, and discussing sensitive legal matters over these lines is discouraged.
Books and magazines ordered for inmates must come directly from the publisher. This policy ensures that the items are new, untampered, and comply with the facility's regulations. The Jail enforces this rule to prevent the introduction of contraband or prohibited materials. By restricting orders to publishers, the facility can better maintain security and control over the content entering the institution. Any books or magazines not received directly from the publisher will be rejected and not delivered to the inmate. You may, however, send letters and selfies to inmates with this easy-to-use app, packages starting at only $8.00.
Inmate workers are chosen based on conduct and cooperation with staff. Participation in the community service program can sometimes reduce sentences. Commissary is available weekly, with orders submitted via kiosk two days in advance. On holidays, there may be increased spending limits. Upon receiving commissary items, inmates must present their ID, check their order, and sign for it in the presence of the commissary employee. Indigent inmates are provided with all essential basic hygiene items including USPS stamps and writing materials.
Unlike many county jails participating in ICE contracts, the IAH Polk Adult Detention Facility was purpose-built to support large-scale federal immigration detention operations and remains one of the most strategically important ICE detention facilities in the southern United States. The complex operates as a highly structured detention environment with extensive perimeter security, transportation coordination systems, federal legal visitation infrastructure, and large-scale detainee housing operations designed specifically for DHS custody requirements. Despite ongoing controversy surrounding immigration detention nationwide, the IAH Polk Adult Detention Facility continues serving as a critical component of ICE detention operations in Texas and remains heavily utilized during periods of increased federal immigration enforcement activity.
