Iowa: Resources for ICE Detainees

This guide is for people detained by ICE in Iowa and for their families. Iowa has six county jails with agreements to hold ICE detainees, collectively capable of holding more than 200 people: Pottawattamie County (Council Bluffs), Polk County (Des Moines), Linn County (Cedar Rapids), Woodbury County (Sioux City), Hardin County, and Muscatine County. Iowa does not have a dedicated ICE detention center - all detention is through county jail contracts. Iowa falls under the ICE St. Paul Field Office (Minnesota), with an Omaha Sub-Office handling deportation officers for Iowa cases. 'Operation ICE Wall' is a joint Iowa State Patrol and ICE enforcement effort that targets commercial truck drivers at Interstate 80 weigh stations; multiple federal lawsuits have been filed by truck drivers detained through this operation, challenging bond denials and due process violations. A federal judge in Des Moines has repeatedly ordered bond hearings for Iowa ICE detainees that the government initially denied. Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice (Iowa MMJ) is the primary free legal service organization statewide; their ICE raid hotline is 515-505-8805. 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). Iowa detainees sometimes appear under the wrong facility in the locator as they are transferred between county jails. Check daily and call facilities directly if the locator shows nothing after 24 hours.

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

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

ICE St. Paul Field Office (covers Iowa): StPaul.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov

ICE Omaha Sub-Office (deportation officers for Iowa): (402) 536-4861

Des Moines ICE/ERO Office (packages/case info for Polk County): (515) 323-2413

Iowa MMJ ICE Raid Hotline: 515-505-8805 - Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice; call to report ICE activity, get referrals for detained family members, and access emergency support.

If your family member was arrested at an I-80 weigh station or at a truck stop: This is part of 'Operation ICE Wall,' a joint Iowa State Patrol and ICE enforcement operation targeting commercial truck drivers. Multiple lawsuits have been filed by truck drivers detained this way. Contact Iowa MMJ and seek legal help immediately - bond denials in these cases have been successfully challenged by federal judges.

Step 2: Where ICE Detainees Are Held in Iowa

Iowa has six county jails with Intergovernmental Service Agreements (IGSAs) that allow them to hold ICE detainees. All are county-operated facilities. Pottawattamie County Jail in Council Bluffs and Polk County Jail in Des Moines are the two facilities officially listed on ICE's public detention facility list; others also hold ICE detainees under their US Marshals contracts.

Pottawattamie County Jail - Council Bluffs (Primary ICE-Listed Facility)

1400 Big Lake Road, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

Detainee inquiries: (712) 890-2250 (Monday-Friday 8 AM-4 PM)

ICE case information: Booking.Mail@pottcounty-ia.gov | St. Paul Field Office: (612) 409-7799

Legal calls: (712) 890-2250 during business hours (Monday-Friday 8 AM-4 PM)

Phone: Collect calls through TurnKey Corrections (as of May 2018 contract). Inmates cannot receive incoming calls.

Mail: [Detainee Full Name], Pottawattamie County Jail, 1400 Big Lake Rd., Council Bluffs, IA 51501. Note: facility provides photocopies of mail to detainees; originals retained as property. No packages, checks, stamps, food, or periodicals not from publishers.

Visiting: Monday-Friday 7:30 AM-9 PM; Saturday-Sunday 7:30 AM-2:30 PM. All visitors must present valid ID. Contact facility before visiting to confirm current schedule.

Council Bluffs is directly across the Missouri River from Omaha, Nebraska. Pottawattamie County Jail is one of the two Iowa jails officially listed by ICE and declined to release detainee population data to the press in 2025.

Polk County Jail - Des Moines

222 Fifth Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309

Detainee inquiries: (515) 323-2413 (Des Moines ICE/ERO Office) | StPaul.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov

Omaha Sub-Office (deportation officers): (402) 536-4861

Tablets: Available - messaging via Polk County Jail portal ('Jail How Do I' page)

Mail: Include last four digits of the detainee's A-Number plus sender's name and address. Mail: [Name, last 4 of A-Number], Polk County Jail, 222 Fifth Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309

Packages: Contact Des Moines ICE/ERO at (515) 323-2413 before sending anything.

Polk County Jail in Des Moines is the other Iowa facility officially on ICE's public list. Average daily ICE population was 28 in fiscal 2025 and 27 per month in the first half of fiscal 2026. It has been the site of multiple 'Operation ICE Wall' detentions, with truck drivers arrested at I-80 weigh stations in Dallas County transferred here. Federal Judge Stephen Locher has issued multiple orders requiring bond hearings for Polk County ICE detainees that the Omaha immigration court initially denied.

Linn County Jail - Cedar Rapids

53 Third Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

Phone: (319) 892-6000 (Linn County Sheriff's Office)

ICE case information: StPaul.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov

Linn County Jail had an average of 36 ICE detainees per month in the first half of fiscal 2026 - up sharply from 10 per month in fiscal 2025 and 8 in fiscal 2024. The county earns $140 per detainee per day. As of September 2025, the sheriff reported holding 35 ICE detainees and described the arrangement as a decades-old agreement with the government. Contact the Linn County Sheriff at (319) 892-6000 for current visiting hours and detainee information.

Woodbury County Jail - Sioux City

407 Seventh Street, Sioux City, IA 51101

Phone: (712) 279-6060 (Woodbury County Sheriff's Office)

ICE case information: StPaul.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov

Woodbury County Jail in Sioux City holds ICE detainees. Sioux City is in western Iowa near the Nebraska and South Dakota borders. Contact the Woodbury County Sheriff at (712) 279-6060 for current visiting hours and detainee information.

Hardin County Jail - Eldora

1215 Edgington Avenue, Eldora, IA 50627

Phone: (641) 939-8100 (Hardin County Sheriff's Office)

ICE case information: StPaul.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov | Omaha Sub-Office: (402) 536-4861

Hardin County Jail in Eldora is one of the six Iowa county jails holding ICE detainees. ICE court records in Operation ICE Wall cases have listed the Hardin County Jail as a holding location for some truck drivers arrested on I-80 (though records in some cases show discrepancies between official ICE reports and actual location). Contact the Hardin County Sheriff at (641) 939-8100 for current detainee status and visiting information.

Muscatine County Jail - Muscatine

Muscatine County Law Enforcement Center, Muscatine, IA

Phone: (563) 264-6110 (Muscatine County Sheriff's Office)

ICE case information: StPaul.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov

Muscatine County Jail began holding ICE detainees in April 2025 and held an average of 22.9 ICE detainees per month for the rest of 2025, earning $572,347.54 from ICE in 2025 at $85 per detainee per day. A contract update signed January 12, 2026 added a non-disclosure clause prohibiting the county from making public disclosures about the ICE agreement without ICE approval. Contact the Muscatine County Sheriff at (563) 264-6110 for current detainee and visiting information.

Step 3: Get Legal Help

Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice (Iowa MMJ) - Primary Legal Resource

iowammj.org | (515) 255-9809 | Des Moines (headquartered)

ICE Raid Hotline: 515-505-8805

Monthly legal clinics: Cedar Rapids, Columbus Junction, Decorah, Des Moines, Marshalltown, Ottumwa, and Storm Lake

Iowa MMJ is a statewide, membership-based nonprofit providing free and low-cost immigration legal services to low-income immigrants throughout Iowa. It is the primary organization for ICE detention legal assistance in the state. Iowa MMJ also produced a comprehensive publication on ICE activity in Iowa - covering the county jail network, how to find detained family members, visiting procedures, and legal resources - available at iowammj.org. Iowa MMJ also operates a hotline (515-505-8805) for reporting ICE raids and getting emergency referrals.

Iowa Legal Aid

iowalegalaid.org | 1-800-532-1275 (statewide intake) | Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City, Waterloo

Provides free civil legal services to low-income Iowans, including some immigration matters. Contact for intake screening.

Catholic Charities - Des Moines and other Iowa dioceses

Immigration legal services at multiple Iowa offices. Contact your local diocese for current services.

Immigration Law and Justice Network - Iowa affiliate: Iowa MMJ

iljnetwork.org - Iowa MMJ (iowammj.org) is the Iowa affiliate of the Immigration Law and Justice Network, which provides free and low-cost immigration legal services through 19 affiliated sites nationwide.

Escucha Mi Voz

Iowa City / Johnson County area - Community organization providing Know Your Rights trainings and community advocacy for immigrant Iowans. Contact for Johnson County / Iowa City area resources.

Iowa City Catholic Worker and Immigration Welcome Network of Johnson County

Iowa City area - Provides community support, accompaniment to ICE check-ins, and advocacy for immigrant families in Johnson County.

Catholic Immigration Legal Services (CIRA Connect - Omaha)

ciraconnect.org | Omaha, NE: (402) 898-1349 | Assistance Line: 1-855-307-6730

Serves Nebraska and western Iowa including Council Bluffs. For Pottawattamie County (Council Bluffs) detainees, this is a key resource.

Operation ICE Wall litigation attorneys

Multiple private immigration attorneys have filed federal habeas petitions on behalf of Iowa detainees arrested in Operation ICE Wall. Attorney Alexander Smith has been prominent in Polk County cases. Contact Iowa MMJ for referrals to attorneys handling I-80 truck driver cases specifically.

EOIR Pro Bono List

Each Iowa jail holding ICE detainees is required to post a pro bono legal service list. Ask your family member to request the list and use the facility phone to contact providers. At Polk County Jail, tablets are available for messaging.

Immigration Advocates Network

immigrationadvocates.org - Searchable national directory; search by Iowa.

Step 4: Bond - How to Get Someone Released

Bond eligibility in Iowa has been actively contested. The Omaha immigration court initially applied the Trump administration's mandatory detention policy to Iowa detainees - denying bond hearings to people who entered the US years ago, including those with pending asylum applications and work authorization. Federal Judge Stephen H. Locher in Des Moines issued multiple rulings ordering the Omaha immigration court to hold bond hearings for Iowa detainees, repeatedly overruling the government's no-bond position. The legal landscape was still being litigated in the Eighth Circuit as of June 2026. Having an attorney is critical for bond hearings.

Bond posting for Iowa detainees

Bond is posted at the ICE ERO Omaha Sub-Office or through a licensed bond agent:

ICE ERO Omaha Sub-Office: Contact (402) 536-4861 or StPaul.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov for current bond posting location and hours.

For Pottawattamie County detainees, also contact the St. Paul Field Office at (612) 409-7799.

Payment: Money order, cashier's check, or certified check payable to 'Department of Homeland Security.' Bring the detainee's full name, A-Number, and bond order from the immigration judge.

A licensed immigration bond agent can post bond electronically for a fee.

Bond Funds

National Immigrant Bond Fund

immigrantbondfund.org - National fund; requires family contribution.

Iowa community and mutual aid

Contact Iowa MMJ at (515) 255-9809 or 515-505-8805 for current Iowa-specific bond assistance resources.

Step 5: Communication at Iowa Jails

Pottawattamie County Jail - Council Bluffs

Visiting: Monday-Friday 7:30 AM-9 PM; Saturday-Sunday 7:30 AM-2:30 PM. Valid ID required. Confirm schedule before traveling: (712) 890-2250.

Phone: Collect calls through TurnKey Corrections. Prepaid accounts available. Outgoing calls only.

Mail: [Name], Pottawattamie County Jail, 1400 Big Lake Rd., Council Bluffs, IA 51501 - photocopies provided to detainees; originals kept as property.

Polk County Jail - Des Moines

Visiting: Contact the facility for current visiting hours and registration.

Tablets: Available - messaging via Polk County Jail portal.

Mail: [Name, last 4 of A-Number, sender name and address], Polk County Jail, 222 Fifth Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309

Packages: Call (515) 323-2413 before sending.

Other Iowa Jails

Linn County: (319) 892-6000 | Woodbury County: (712) 279-6060 | Hardin County: (641) 939-8100 | Muscatine County: (563) 264-6110

Contact each facility directly for current visiting hours, phone system, and mail procedures. Visiting hours and phone arrangements vary by county.

Step 6: Iowa's Enforcement Environment and Your Rights

Operation ICE Wall - I-80 Truck Driver Enforcement

'Operation ICE Wall' is a joint Iowa State Patrol and ICE enforcement operation that targets commercial truck drivers along Interstate 80. Iowa State Patrol troopers pull over drivers who bypass weigh stations, issue citations, and direct drivers to the weigh station - where ICE officers arrest and detain any driver determined to be present without lawful status. The operation has detained truck drivers with pending asylum applications, active work authorization, and temporary residency status. Multiple federal lawsuits have been filed by Indian and Pakistani national truck drivers arrested this way, with federal judges in Iowa repeatedly ordering bond hearings that the Omaha immigration court initially denied.

If a family member was arrested at an I-80 weigh station: Contact Iowa MMJ at 515-505-8805 and seek legal help immediately. Federal habeas petitions filed in US District Court in Des Moines have successfully challenged bond denials for Operation ICE Wall detainees. Do not wait.

Non-disclosure agreements in Iowa county jails:

Muscatine County's January 2026 contract update with ICE includes a non-disclosure clause prohibiting the county from making public statements about its ICE agreement without ICE approval. This creates unusual transparency limitations. Iowa MMJ and Iowa Capital Dispatch have been monitoring this issue.

Immigration court for Iowa:

Iowa falls under the Omaha Immigration Court and the ICE St. Paul Field Office. Immigration court hearings for Iowa detainees are held in Omaha, Nebraska or by video from the detention facility. US District Court in Des Moines (Southern District of Iowa) has been an active venue for habeas petitions challenging bond denials.

Do not sign anything without an attorney:

ICE may pressure detained people to sign Voluntary Departure or stipulated removal documents. Multiple Iowa detainees have been approached with these documents. Signing can waive critical legal rights. 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 listed pro bono providers are required.

The right to a bond hearing before an immigration judge (subject to legal dispute - seek a lawyer immediately if denied).

The right to be free from physical, sexual, and verbal abuse.

The right to access medical care.

The right to communicate with your home country's consulate (free calls required).

The right to refuse to sign any document without an attorney.

To report abuse or file a complaint:

Iowa MMJ: iowammj.org | 515-505-8805

DHS Inspector General: oig.dhs.gov | 1-800-323-8603

Quick Reference - Iowa 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 St. Paul Field Office: StPaul.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov

ICE Omaha Sub-Office: (402) 536-4861

Iowa MMJ (primary legal resource and ICE raid hotline):

iowammj.org | (515) 255-9809 | Hotline: 515-505-8805

Iowa ICE detention facilities:

Pottawattamie County Jail (Council Bluffs): 1400 Big Lake Rd - (712) 890-2250

Polk County Jail (Des Moines): 222 Fifth Ave - Des Moines ICE: (515) 323-2413

Linn County Jail (Cedar Rapids): 53 Third Ave SW - (319) 892-6000

Woodbury County Jail (Sioux City): 407 Seventh St - (712) 279-6060

Hardin County Jail (Eldora): 1215 Edgington Ave - (641) 939-8100

Muscatine County Jail (Muscatine): (563) 264-6110

Post bond:

ICE Omaha Sub-Office: (402) 536-4861 | StPaul.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov

Sources and verification: The Gazette (Cedar Rapids), 'Iowa Jails Holding Immigrant Inmates for ICE See Sharp Rise,' 2026 (six counties: Woodbury Pottawattamie Polk Hardin Linn Muscatine; collectively 200+ beds; Polk monthly average 19 fiscal 2024 to 28 fiscal 2025 to 27 first half fiscal 2026; Linn monthly average 5 fiscal 2022 to 8 fiscal 2024 to 10 fiscal 2025 to 36 first half fiscal 2026; Muscatine $572,347.54 from ICE in 2025 at $85/day average 22.9/month April-December 2025; Muscatine January 12, 2026 contract update non-disclosure clause 'no public disclosures without review and approval by ICE'); KCRG, 'Linn Co. Holding More Than 30 ICE Detainees,' September 19, 2025 (Sheriff Brian Gardner; 35 ICE inmates as of morning; up to 70 beds through Marshals agreement; ICE uses remaining; $140 per inmate per day; decades-old arrangement); Iowa Capital Dispatch, 'More ICE Detainees Held in Iowa Jails Sue Federal Government,' April 13, 2026 (Operation ICE Wall Iowa State Patrol commercial truck drivers I-80 weigh stations; bypass weigh station cited then directed back; ICE arrests; held typically without bond; Kumar Indian national May 2022 entry; February 11 Mitchellville truck stop; Polk County Jail; Suraj Vasal Jagdish Singh also arrested same day same location; multiple lawsuits federal government due process violations); Iowa Capital Dispatch/KCRG, 'Iowa State Patrol's Operation ICE Wall Triggers More Litigation,' April 6, 2026 (Abbas Pakistani national March 4, 2026; Dallas County weigh station; coworker driving; Abbas passenger; immigration status checked; Polk County Jail; April 9 immigration court hearing; due process lawsuit; Singh Hardin County Jail per ICE but Polk per lawsuit; Vasal asylum pending four years; I-80 February 11 Trooper Nathaniel Rippey; Polk County Jail; initially denied bond); Iowa Capital Dispatch, 'For the Third Time, Judge Orders Hearing for ICE Detainee in Polk County Jail,' April 22, 2026 (Vasal asylum pending; February 11, 2026 pulled over I-80; denied bond Omaha immigration court mandatory detention; attorney Alexander Smith; US District Judge Stephen H. Locher ordered bond hearing February 24; 30 minutes notice 10 AM by ICE; denied request more time; ICE argued weigh station bypass = flight risk danger community; bond denied; judge issued third order; Eighth Circuit decision does not change conclusion re bond hearing); Iowa Conference UMC (Iowa MMJ publication on ICE in Iowa; six county jails IGSAs; 200+ collective beds; iowammj.org); Daily Iowan, 'Organizations Offering Legal Support and Advocacy for Immigrants in Iowa,' March 4, 2026 (Iowa MMJ headquartered Des Moines statewide; hotline 515-505-8805; Escucha Mi Voz; Iowa City Catholic Worker; Immigration Welcome Network Johnson County; KYR training Coralville February 27, 2026); ICE Pottawattamie County Jail page (ice.gov; 1400 Big Lake Road Council Bluffs IA 51501; (712) 890-2250; Booking.Mail@pottcounty-ia.gov; St Paul Field Office (612) 409-7799; TurnKey Corrections May 2018; mail photocopies to detainees originals property; no packages checks stamps stamped envelopes food; mail full name; legal calls (712) 890-2250 Mon-Fri 8-4); ICE Polk County Jail page (ice.gov; StPaul.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov; Omaha Sub-Office (402) 536-4861; Des Moines ICE/ERO (515) 323-2413 for packages; tablets Polk County portal; mail last 4 A-number plus sender name address; 1 Federal Drive Ste 1640 Ft Snelling MN 55111 complaints address); ILJ Network (Iowa MMJ Des Moines affiliate; (515) 255-9809; clinics Cedar Rapids Columbus Junction Decorah Des Moines Marshalltown Ottumwa Storm Lake; ciraconnect.org Omaha (402) 898-1349 1-855-307-6730 western Iowa Council Bluffs). Volatile items: Verify all Iowa county jail visiting hours before traveling (hours vary by county and change without notice); verify ICE Omaha Sub-Office current bond posting address and hours (contact (402) 536-4861 or StPaul.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov); verify Muscatine County Jail full address (building listed as Muscatine County Law Enforcement Center; call (563) 264-6110 for full address and visiting); verify Woodbury County Jail current ICE detainee operations (Sioux City 407 Seventh Street; call (712) 279-6060); verify Hardin County Jail address and current status (1215 Edgington Avenue Eldora; call (641) 939-8100); verify Operation ICE Wall current legal status (active litigation in Eighth Circuit as of April-June 2026; monitor Iowa Capital Dispatch for developments). Last verified: June 2026.