Imperial RDF 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 Regional Detention - low facility.
The phone carrier is Global Tel Link (GTL) - ConnectNetwork, 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 AccessCorrections 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
Imperial RDF is an immigration detention facility in Calexico, CA. Detainees are held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while their immigration cases are processed, including hearings, deportation proceedings, or asylum claims. To locate a detainee, use the ICE Online Detainee Locator System at locator.ice.gov with the detainee's A-Number or full name and country of birth.
To find an ICE detainee, 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 Imperial Regional Detention Facility in Calexico, California, is a privately operated correctional and immigration detention center managed by Management & Training Corporation under contract with the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Located near the United States-Mexico border in Imperial County, the facility houses ICE detainees awaiting immigration hearings, deportation proceedings, asylum determinations, or transfer within the federal detention system. Public ICE and federal detention records identify the facility as having an operational capacity of approximately 1,000 detainees, making it one of the larger immigration detention centers in Southern California. The facility is currently overseen by Administrator Jose Balderas, who manages detention operations, transportation logistics, inmate services, healthcare coordination, and institutional security throughout the complex.
Originally opened in the early 1990s as a regional correctional facility, the detention center evolved into a major federal immigration detention site as DHS expanded immigration enforcement operations along the southern border. The facility contains secure housing units, intake and booking sections, medical and mental health clinics, transportation staging areas, attorney visitation rooms, recreation yards, dining operations, educational areas, and administrative offices supporting around-the-clock detention functions. ICE detainees housed at the facility are typically processed through immigration courts serving Southern California and Arizona border enforcement regions. Its location in Calexico, directly adjacent to Mexicali, Mexico, makes the facility strategically important within ICE’s southwestern detention network.
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. ICE Detainee Locator
Following the intake process, which includes property inventory, medical screening, and booking, inmates are assigned to the general population. Housing assignments are based on the classification of their charges, whether felony or misdemeanor, to ensure proper management and safety within the facility.
After processing, inmates are assigned to a housing area based on classification. Compliance with jail rules typically results in a lower classification and more privileges, while rule violations or additional charges lead to a higher classification and fewer privileges. Inmates serving as trustees within the jail undertake various tasks, including cooking, laundry, and commissary management, often receiving minimal compensation or sentence reduction for their services.
One distinguishing feature of the Imperial Regional Detention Facility is its close integration with border enforcement operations and detainee transportation systems throughout Southern California. The detention center frequently receives detainees transferred from Border Patrol processing stations, ICE field offices, and regional detention centers facing overcrowding during periods of elevated migration activity. The facility also became economically significant for Imperial County, providing correctional, transportation, healthcare, food service, and administrative jobs in a region historically impacted by agricultural employment fluctuations and economic instability. Federal detention contracts tied to the facility have generated millions of dollars in operational revenue over the years.
The detention center has also faced controversy and scrutiny involving detainee healthcare, use of solitary confinement, mental health treatment, and allegations involving inadequate living conditions. Advocacy organizations and immigration attorneys have repeatedly criticized conditions inside the facility, particularly during periods of elevated ICE detention populations. Federal inspections and civil rights complaints documented concerns involving medical staffing shortages, delayed healthcare access, and communication barriers affecting detainees awaiting immigration proceedings. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the facility drew additional criticism from advocacy groups alleging insufficient protections against viral spread inside detention housing units.
Unlike many county jails that merely supplement ICE detention capacity, the Imperial Regional Detention Facility was specifically structured to support large-scale federal detention operations and remains one of the most important ICE detention centers along the California border region. The facility operates with extensive perimeter security, transportation coordination systems, federal legal visitation infrastructure, and large-scale detainee management operations designed specifically for DHS custody requirements. Despite continuing legal challenges and political controversy surrounding private immigration detention nationwide, the Imperial Regional Detention Facility continues serving as a major component of federal immigration enforcement operations in Southern California and the broader Southwest border region.
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.
