Karnes Co IPC is for US Immigration & Customs Enforcement-ICE offenders have not been sentenced yet and are detained here until their case is heard.
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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 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 Karnes County Immigration Processing Center (ICE) - GEO is a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility located at 409 FM 1144 in Karnes City, TX in Karnes 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 Karnes County Immigration Processing Center in Karnes City, Texas, is one of the largest and most well-known family immigration detention facilities in the United States. Operated by GEO Group under contract with the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the facility houses ICE detainees awaiting immigration hearings, asylum proceedings, deportation actions, or transfer within the federal detention system. Located southeast of San Antonio in rural South Texas, the detention center has historically functioned as both an adult and family detention complex during different phases of federal immigration policy. Public ICE and GEO Group records identify the facility as having an operational capacity of approximately 1,328 detainees. The facility operates under GEO Group administrative leadership in coordination with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, while Karnes County Sheriff Dwayne Villanueva oversees county law enforcement operations connected to the region surrounding the detention complex.
Originally opened in 2012 as a civil detention center for adult male ICE detainees, the Karnes County Immigration Processing Center later became nationally known for housing women and children during major surges in family migration across the southern border. The detention center contains secure housing dormitories, intake and booking areas, medical and mental health clinics, transportation staging sections, attorney visitation rooms, recreation spaces, dining facilities, educational areas, and administrative offices supporting around-the-clock detention operations. ICE detainees processed through the facility are generally tied to immigration court proceedings in South Texas and surrounding federal jurisdictions. The detention center’s rural location allows DHS to maintain a large-scale detention operation away from major metropolitan areas while still remaining connected to transportation and deportation infrastructure across Texas.
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.
One of the most distinguishing features of the Karnes County Immigration Processing Center is its central role in the national debate surrounding family immigration detention. During the Obama administration, the facility was rapidly expanded to house mothers and children arriving at the southern border, drawing enormous media attention and legal scrutiny. Immigration attorneys, advocacy organizations, pediatricians, and civil rights groups repeatedly criticized the detention of families and children inside secured facilities, arguing the detention environment created serious psychological and emotional harm. Multiple federal court challenges involving family detention standards, child welfare concerns, and asylum processing practices specifically focused on Karnes and similar South Texas detention centers.
The facility has also faced substantial controversy involving detainee healthcare, allegations of medical neglect, prolonged detention periods, mental health concerns, and hunger strikes staged by detainees protesting conditions or delays in immigration proceedings. Advocacy groups documented repeated complaints involving inadequate healthcare access, poor sanitation, language barriers, and restrictions on legal communication. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the detention center faced additional scrutiny after outbreaks spread among detainees and staff members. Despite ongoing criticism, GEO Group and ICE officials have consistently maintained that the facility complies with federal detention standards and undergoes regular inspection and oversight procedures.
Unlike many county jails that simply supplement ICE bed space, the Karnes County Immigration Processing Center was purpose-built as a large-scale federal immigration detention operation and remains deeply integrated into DHS enforcement infrastructure across South Texas. The complex operates with extensive perimeter security, transportation coordination systems, federal legal visitation operations, and large-scale detainee management capabilities designed specifically for immigration detention. Even after years of litigation, protests, and national political controversy, the Karnes County Immigration Processing Center remains one of the most recognizable ICE detention facilities in the United States and continues playing a major role in federal immigration enforcement strategy along the southern border.
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.
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 environment in the county jail is considered less stressful than that of a prison because the sentences are much shorter.
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.
