This guide is for people detained by ICE in North Carolina and for their families. As of May 20, 2026, North Carolina has no long-term ICE detention facility. The Alamance County Detention Center in Graham - previously the state's only long-term ICE facility - ended its ICE housing agreement on November 16, 2025 due to changes in state law. People arrested by ICE in North Carolina are typically held briefly in a 72-hour hold room (Charlotte, Cary, or Hendersonville) and then transferred to ICE detention centers in Georgia, primarily Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, GA and Folkston ICE Processing Center in Folkston, GA. More than 25 local law enforcement agencies in North Carolina have 287(g) agreements with ICE, allowing local deputies to assist in immigration enforcement. ICE conducted a major enforcement operation called 'Charlotte's Web' in November 2025, arresting 370+ people across Charlotte and the Raleigh-Durham area. Three proposed expansion sites - Rivers Correctional Institution (Winton), the former American Hebrew Academy (Greensboro), and a warehouse in Concord - have been reported but not confirmed as of May 2026. North Carolina falls under the ICE Atlanta Field Office, with a Raleigh sub-office. Bond posts at ICE 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). North Carolina has no long-term detention - transfers to Georgia (Stewart or Folkston) happen quickly and may occur with no family notification. Check the locator immediately and search across Georgia, South Carolina, and other southern states.
ICE Detention Reporting and Information Line: 1-888-351-4024 (toll-free)
EOIR Immigration Court Case Status: 1-800-898-7180
ICE Raleigh Sub-Office (NC case information): (919) 677-6351 | Atlanta.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov
ICE Atlanta Field Office (covers NC): Atlanta.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov | 180 Ted Turner Drive SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
Siembra NC rapid response hotline: (336) 543-0353 - Alamance, Cabarrus, Durham, Guilford, Randolph, and Johnston counties
Carolina Migrant Network hotlines: carolinamigrantnetwork.org - county-specific hotlines across NC
ACLU of North Carolina: acluofnorthcarolina.org | (919) 834-3466
If a family member was arrested in NC and does not appear in the locator: Search the locator for Georgia (Stewart and Folkston are the most common destinations). Also try New Hanover County Detention Center (Castle Hayne, NC) and county jails near the arrest location.
Step 2: Where NC ICE Detainees Are Held - No Long-Term In-State Facility
North Carolina has no dedicated long-term ICE detention center as of June 2026. The Alamance County Detention Center, which was the state's only long-term ICE facility, ended its agreement with ICE on November 16, 2025. ICE detainees arrested in North Carolina are typically processed through a 72-hour hold room, then transferred to detention facilities in other states - primarily Georgia.
72-Hour Hold Rooms (Temporary Processing, Up to 72 Hours)
ICE operates three field offices with hold rooms in North Carolina - temporary holding spaces where people can be held for up to 72 hours before transfer. The maximum was increased from 12 to 72 hours by the Trump administration in June 2025.
Charlotte ICE Field Office / Hold Room
Charlotte, NC | Charlotte.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov | (704) 716-3300
ICE case info: Atlanta.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov
Cary ICE Sub-Office / Hold Room
Cary, NC (Research Triangle area) | ICE case info: Atlanta.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov | Raleigh sub-office: (919) 677-6351
Hendersonville ICE Sub-Office / Hold Room
Hendersonville, NC (western NC, near Asheville) | ICE case info: Atlanta.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov
New Hanover County Detention Center - Castle Hayne (County Jail with ICE Access)
3950 Juvenile Center Road, Castle Hayne, NC 28429 | (910) 798-4152 (New Hanover County Sheriff)
New Hanover County Detention Center holds ICE detainees through its agreement with the U.S. Marshals Service, which ICE can utilize. Located near Wilmington. Contact the jail directly or ICE Raleigh sub-office at (919) 677-6351 for detainee information.
Former Alamance County Detention Center - Graham (No Longer Holding ICE Detainees Long-Term)
109 S. Maple Street, Graham, NC 27253 | (336) 570-6317 | ICE case info: Atlanta.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov
IMPORTANT: The Alamance County Detention Center ended its ICE long-term detention agreement on November 16, 2025 due to state law changes. As of that date, it no longer holds ICE detainees for more than 72 hours. Sheriff Terry Johnson had previously been in negotiations to re-enter an expanded agreement at a former state prison unit in Alamance County. Verify current status at ice.gov or by calling the Raleigh ICE sub-office at (919) 677-6351.
Primary Out-of-State Destinations for North Carolina Detainees
Stewart Detention Center - Lumpkin, Georgia (Most Common Destination)
146 CCA Road, Lumpkin, GA 31815 | (229) 838-5000
Stewart Detention Center is GEO Group's largest ICE detention facility in the Southeast and the most common destination for North Carolina ICE detainees. It is approximately 170 miles southwest of Charlotte and 250 miles from Raleigh. Stewart is one of the most remote ICE detention facilities in the country, located in rural Stewart County, Georgia. See the Georgia article in this series for full communication details.
ICE case info: Atlanta.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov | EOIR court status: 1-800-898-7180
Folkston ICE Processing Center - Folkston, Georgia
3026 Hwy 252 E, Folkston, GA 31537 | (912) 496-5000
Folkston is expanding (to approximately 3,000 beds) and also receives North Carolina detainees. Located in rural southeastern Georgia near the Florida border. See the Georgia article in this series for full communication details.
ICE case info: Atlanta.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov
Other facilities
NC detainees may also be sent to Irwin County Detention Center (GA), to Louisiana facilities, or other southern detention centers based on capacity and transport routes. Always check the ICE Detainee Locator and search broadly when a family member cannot be located.
Step 3: Get Legal Help
North Carolina has a growing immigrant legal infrastructure centered in Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Greensboro, and Asheville. Because most NC detainees are transferred to Georgia quickly, connecting with an attorney immediately after arrest is critical.
Carolina Migrant Network - Statewide
carolinamigrantnetwork.org | 1-888-482-2623 | Central NC: (919) 687-3688
Carolina Migrant Network is the primary statewide immigrant legal services organization in North Carolina. They provide Know Your Rights education, legal referrals, and community hotlines for ICE enforcement activity across the state. Contact immediately when someone is detained.
ACLU of North Carolina
acluofnorthcarolina.org | (919) 834-3466 | Raleigh
ACLU-NC is the primary civil rights advocacy organization for immigration enforcement issues in NC. They have been active in opposing 287(g) agreements, challenging unlawful arrests, and documenting ICE conditions. Contact for civil rights concerns, unlawful arrests, and referrals.
Siembra NC
siembranc.org | (336) 543-0353 (rapid response hotline for Alamance, Cabarrus, Durham, Guilford, Randolph, and Johnston counties)
Siembra NC is an immigrant justice organization serving Alamance County and the Piedmont Triad. They host ICE Watch trainings to help community members document ICE activity. Contact for rapid response when someone is detained.
Action NC / NC Justice Center - Immigration Program
ncjustice.org | (919) 856-2570 | Raleigh - Policy and legal advocacy for immigrants in North Carolina.
Latin American Coalition - Charlotte
latinamericancoalition.org | (704) 531-5511 | Charlotte - Provides immigration legal services and community support for the Charlotte metro area.
Adelante Education Coalition - Charlotte
adelantecharlotte.org | Charlotte - Immigration resources and community support.
For Stewart Detention Center detainees - Georgia legal resources
Project South: projectsouth.org | (404) 222-0602 - Atlanta-based legal advocacy for Stewart detainees
Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights (GLAHR): glahr.org | (770) 457-5232 - Statewide Georgia immigration advocacy
Southern Poverty Law Center SIFI Project: splcenter.org | Provides legal services at Stewart and Folkston
EOIR Pro Bono List
ICE hold rooms and county jails in NC are required to post pro bono legal service lists. Ask your family member to request the list immediately. For Stewart and Folkston detainees, ask for the Georgia pro bono list.
Immigration Advocates Network
immigrationadvocates.org - National searchable directory; search by North Carolina or Georgia.
Step 4: Bond - How to Get Someone Released
North Carolina falls under the ICE Atlanta Field Office and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Bond is available for many NC detainees - but because transfers to Georgia happen quickly, you must have an attorney file for a bond hearing before or immediately after the transfer.
Bond posting for North Carolina detainees
Bond is posted at the ICE Atlanta Field Office (which covers NC), or at the Georgia facility location if the detainee has been transferred:
ICE ERO Atlanta: 180 Ted Turner Drive SW, Atlanta, GA 30303 | Atlanta.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov | (404) 346-2300
For Stewart detainees: Bond may also be handled through the Atlanta ERO office. Contact an immigration attorney or the Atlanta ERO to confirm current bond posting procedures.
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.
NC mutual aid
Contact Carolina Migrant Network (1-888-482-2623) and ACLU-NC ((919) 834-3466) for current NC-specific bond assistance resources.
Step 5: Communication - Primarily at Georgia Facilities
Because most NC detainees are transferred to Georgia, communication procedures depend on where your family member ends up. See the Georgia article in this series for Stewart and Folkston communication details.
New Hanover County Detention Center - Castle Hayne
3950 Juvenile Center Road, Castle Hayne, NC 28429 | (910) 798-4152
Contact the facility directly for current visiting hours, phone procedures, and mailing address.
Stewart Detention Center - Lumpkin, GA
146 CCA Road, Lumpkin, GA 31815 | (229) 838-5000
Phone: GTL phone system - contact facility for prepaid account procedures.
Visiting: Contact facility for current schedule. Stewart is 170 miles from Charlotte - a 3-hour drive.
Mail: [Name + A-Number], Stewart Detention Center, 146 CCA Road, Lumpkin, GA 31815
Folkston ICE Processing Center - Folkston, GA
3026 Hwy 252 E, Folkston, GA 31537 | (912) 496-5000
Mail: [Name + A-Number], Folkston ICE Processing Center, 3026 Hwy 252 E, Folkston, GA 31537
Contact facility for current visiting and phone procedures.
Step 6: North Carolina Context and Your Rights
No long-term in-state detention as of May 2026:
North Carolina's unique situation - no dedicated ICE detention center - creates both advantages and serious challenges. The advantage: NC does not have a large, permanent ICE detention facility contributing to mass detention. The challenge: transfers to Georgia happen fast and often without notice, making it extremely difficult for families and attorneys to stay connected. UNC-Chapel Hill law professor Rick Su noted that 'it is difficult to determine exactly where detained people are usually held - even attorneys struggle to locate their clients in detention.'
Three proposed expansion sites - VOLATILE:
As of May 2026, three expansion sites have been reported but not confirmed:
Rivers Correctional Institution, 145 Parker's Fishery Rd, Winton, NC 27986 (Hertford County, eastern NC - GEO Group facility, capacity 1,300+, previously held ICE detainees before 2021 closure, in negotiations to reopen as of September 2025)
Former American Hebrew Academy, 4334 Hobbs Rd, Greensboro, NC 27410 (Baptiste Group proposal; Greensboro City Council passed new zoning requirements intended to prevent conversion; federal government has not confirmed)
Concord warehouse, approximately 30 miles northeast of Charlotte (ICE reportedly considering purchase; warehouse owner denied it; community protests organized by Indivisible Cabarrus County)
If any of these open, they would become North Carolina's primary in-state ICE detention facility. Monitor at ice.gov and ACLU-NC (acluofnorthcarolina.org). ICE has not always notified local governments in advance of detention expansion.
287(g) agreements - more than 25 NC agencies:
More than 25 North Carolina law enforcement agencies have 287(g) agreements with ICE allowing local deputies to assist with immigration enforcement. This means immigration encounters can occur at routine traffic stops, court appearances, and anywhere local law enforcement operates. The NC Governor vetoed a 2025 bill that would have required several state agencies to enter 287(g) agreements; state lawmakers may attempt to override the veto.
'Charlotte's Web' and enforcement operations:
In November 2025, US Customs and Border Protection agents conducted 'Operation Charlotte's Web,' making more than 370 arrests across Charlotte and the Raleigh-Durham Triangle in five days. Subsequent enforcement has continued at lower intensity. NC Local reported that enforcement has been 'haphazard and opportunistic' - with agents going to immigrant-heavy neighborhoods, workplaces, and corridors.
Do not sign anything without an attorney:
Contact Carolina Migrant Network at 1-888-482-2623 or ACLU-NC at (919) 834-3466 before signing any Voluntary Departure document.
Key rights every detainee has:
The right to speak with an attorney. Ask for the pro bono list; contact Carolina Migrant Network and ACLU-NC immediately.
The right to a bond hearing before an immigration judge. Contact an attorney immediately - transfers to Georgia happen fast.
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 documents without an attorney present.
To report conditions, unlawful arrests, or file a complaint:
ACLU of NC: acluofnorthcarolina.org | (919) 834-3466
Siembra NC: (336) 543-0353
Carolina Migrant Network: carolinamigrantnetwork.org | 1-888-482-2623
DHS Inspector General: oig.dhs.gov | 1-800-323-8603
ICE Atlanta: Atlanta.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov
Quick Reference - North Carolina ICE Detainee Resources
Find a detainee:
ICE Detainee Locator: locator.ice.gov - search NC AND Georgia (Stewart/Folkston)
ICE Detention Reporting Line: 1-888-351-4024
EOIR Case Status: 1-800-898-7180
ICE Raleigh Sub-Office: (919) 677-6351 | Atlanta.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov
Siembra NC rapid response: (336) 543-0353
Carolina Migrant Network: carolinamigrantnetwork.org | 1-888-482-2623
NC has no long-term ICE facility as of June 2026.
Most detainees transferred to:
Stewart Detention Center (Lumpkin, GA): 146 CCA Road | (229) 838-5000
Folkston ICE Processing Center (Folkston, GA): 3026 Hwy 252 E | (912) 496-5000
New Hanover County Jail (Castle Hayne, NC): 3950 Juvenile Center Rd | (910) 798-4152
Legal help:
Carolina Migrant Network: carolinamigrantnetwork.org | 1-888-482-2623
ACLU of NC: acluofnorthcarolina.org | (919) 834-3466
Siembra NC: siembranc.org | (336) 543-0353
Post bond:
ICE ERO Atlanta: 180 Ted Turner Drive SW, Atlanta, GA 30303 | Atlanta.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov
Proposed NC expansion sites (not confirmed as of June 2026 - verify at ice.gov):
Rivers Correctional Institution, Winton NC (Hertford County, GEO Group, 1,300+ capacity)
Former American Hebrew Academy, Greensboro NC (Baptiste Group proposal)
Concord warehouse, ~30 miles NE of Charlotte
Sources and verification: ACLU of North Carolina, 'State of Immigration Enforcement in North Carolina,' May 20, 2026 (no long-term ICE detention facility as of May 20 2026; most detained transferred to Stewart Detention Center 146 CCA Road Lumpkin GA 31815 and Folkston ICE Processing Center 3026 Hwy 252 E Folkston GA 31537; ICE hold rooms Charlotte Cary Hendersonville 72-hour max increased from 12 hours June 2025; proposed expansion sites Rivers Correctional Institution 145 Parkers Fishery Rd Winton NC 27986 and former American Hebrew Academy 4334 Hobbs Rd Greensboro NC 27410 not confirmed as of May 20 2026; ICE has not always notified local state governments in advance); The Assembly NC, 'Where Are the People Border Patrol Detained in North Carolina?' November 20, 2025 (Alamance County Detention Center only NC detention facility officially overseen by division of ICE until that week; ICE contracts private prisons people transferred to Stewart often; local law enforcement contract with ICE for holding; UNC professor Rick Su 'difficult to determine exactly where detained even attorneys struggle to locate clients'; arrests more haphazard opportunistic; 370+ arrested Charlotte's Web five days); The Assembly NC, 'Where in NC Is ICE Looking to Expand?' March 2026 (updated NC Local March 31 2026; five NC field offices Charlotte Cary Hendersonville Wilmington Greensboro; Charlotte Cary Hendersonville hold rooms; each housed detainees 2025; Alamance November 16 2025 ended agreement due to state law changes; Sheriff Johnson negotiations to re-enter larger agreement former state prison unit Alamance County; New Hanover County Castle Hayne through US Marshals agreement ICE can utilize; 25+ local law enforcement 287g agreements; ACLU FOIA Rivers Correctional Winton GEO Group 1300+ capacity 2021 closure negotiations reopen; former American Hebrew Academy Greensboro Baptiste Group; Concord warehouse 30 miles NE Charlotte 1500 beds ICE considering; Concord owner denied; Indivisible Cabarrus County protest; Greensboro City Council zoning amendments special use permits limiting locations); ACLU NC FOIA press release January 2026 (FOIA lawsuit ICE failed respond October 2025; 98 pages records disclosed; seven new detention centers considered including NC sites; $45 billion detention funding; six deaths ICE custody first three weeks 2026; Sophia Gregg ACLU Virginia quote); Elon News Network November 2025 (Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson letter ICE November 16 2025; state law changes effective December 1; 'Iryna's Law' pretrial release electronic monitoring violent crimes; materially affect classification housing supervision; prioritize bed space local state inmates); ICE Alamance County page (ice.gov; 109 S Maple St Graham NC 27253; (336) 570-6317 message; (336) 570-6381 ICE lieutenant consular; Atlanta.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov case info; (919) 677-6351 Raleigh sub-office deportation officer; 8 AM-5 PM Mon-Fri visitors not processed after 4:30 PM; 2 visits per week Sunday-Saturday 15 minutes non-contact; subject search no items; cashier check money order detainee name A-number purchaser signature; no outside property); cfiaus.com NC bond (Atlanta Field Office 180 Ted Turner Drive SW Atlanta GA 30303 (404) 346-2300 bond posting for NC detainees). Volatile items: Verify Alamance County Detention Center current ICE status (ended November 16 2025; Sheriff Johnson negotiating expanded agreement former state prison unit Alamance County; verify whether new expanded agreement signed and operational); verify Rivers Correctional Institution Winton current status (GEO Group negotiations to reopen as ICE detention September 2025 report; verify whether contract signed and facility operational); verify former American Hebrew Academy Greensboro current status (Baptiste Group proposal ACLU FOIA January 2026; Greensboro City Council zoning amendments; verify whether ICE moving forward despite local opposition); verify Concord warehouse current status (reported February 2026; owner denied; verify current status); verify New Hanover County Detention Center current ICE detainee capacity and status ((910) 798-4152; verify currently active); verify North Carolina 287g agreement list (25+ agencies as of early 2026; verify current complete list at ice.gov); verify Governor's veto of SB153 287g bill current status (vetoed June 2025; legislature may attempt override; verify current legislative status). Last verified: June 2026.