This guide is for people detained by ICE in Virginia and for their families. Virginia has two primary long-term ICE detention centers, both in Central Virginia: the Caroline Detention Facility in Bowling Green (Caroline County, 336 beds, accepts men and women) and the Farmville Detention Center in Farmville (Prince Edward County, 732 beds, men only, operated by CoreCivic since July 2025). Virginia is a major ICE enforcement state: nearly 11,000 people were arrested by ICE in Virginia between Trump's inauguration in January 2025 and early March 2026 - compared to just 1,595 arrests in all of 2024. Between the two primary facilities and the Riverside Regional Jail in Prince George County, there were approximately 14,687 total bookings from January 20 through March 10, 2026. An additional 7,344 people were booked at the Riverside Regional Jail Authority alone from January 2025 through early April 2026. ICE data shows that 70% or more of Virginia detainees have no prior criminal convictions. Virginia falls under the ICE Washington Field Office. Bond for Virginia detainees posts at the ICE ERO office in Richmond. Primary legal resources: Virginia Poverty Law Center, Legal Aid Justice Center, CLINIC affiliates. 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). Virginia ICE detainees may be at Caroline (Bowling Green), Farmville, Riverside Regional Jail (Prince George County), Southwest Regional Jail (Abingdon), or other county jails with 287(g) agreements.
ICE Detention Reporting and Information Line: 1-888-351-4024 (toll-free)
EOIR Immigration Court Case Status: 1-800-898-7180
ICE Washington Field Office (covers Virginia): Washington.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov | (703) 285-6200
Caroline Detention Facility - detainee information: (804) 633-0043 ext. 151 or ext. 261 | 8 AM-4 PM
Farmville Detention Center - detainee information: (434) 395-8114 | 8 AM-4 PM
Legal Aid Justice Center (Virginia statewide immigration legal services): lajc.org | (434) 977-0553 | Charlottesville - primary statewide legal resource
Step 2: Virginia ICE Detention Facilities
Caroline Detention Facility - Bowling Green (Primary, Men and Women)
11093 SW Lewis Memorial Drive, Bowling Green, VA 22427
Phone (detainee information, 8 AM-4 PM): (804) 633-0043 ext. 151 or ext. 261
ICE Washington Field Office case information: Washington.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov | (703) 285-6200
Tablets: gettingout.com - for non-confidential messaging
Bond: Cannot be posted at Caroline. Post at ICE ERO Richmond: 9200 Arboretum Parkway, Suite 140, Richmond, VA 23236 | (804) 330-8250 | Monday-Friday (no holidays) 9 AM-3 PM
The Caroline Detention Facility is a 336-bed correctional facility adjacent to Route 301 near Bowling Green (Caroline County), six miles north of Fort A.P. Hill. It opened in 1999 as the Peumansend Creek Regional Jail and has been under exclusive ICE contract since 2018. It accepts both men and women - making it the only Virginia ICE facility that holds women. It is operated by the Caroline County government under intergovernmental agreement with ICE's Washington Field Office.
As of early FY2026, the Caroline Detention Facility's average daily population was 331, with 216 of those people (approximately 65%) classified as having 'no ICE threat level' - meaning no prior criminal convictions. The facility repeatedly exceeded its 336-bed maximum capacity beginning in November 2025, reaching 353 average daily population. It has been persistently over capacity since then.
Visiting: Visits are organized by gender. Visits cannot exceed 60 minutes. Arrive at least 30 minutes early. Valid ID required. Visitation is not allowed during a detainee's first 10 days at the facility. Visiting hours: Saturday and Sunday 1:30 PM-9:30 PM for family. Attorneys: daily 1:30 PM-9:30 PM. Call (804) 633-0043 to confirm current schedule.
Mail: Include detainee's full name and A-Number. Send to: [Detainee Name, A#], Caroline Detention Facility, 11093 SW Lewis Memorial Drive, Bowling Green, VA 22427.
Farmville Detention Center - Farmville (Men Only)
508 Waterworks Road (P.O. Box 488), Farmville, VA 23901
Phone (detainee information, 8 AM-4 PM): (434) 395-8114
ICE Washington Field Office case information: Washington.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov | (703) 285-6200
Attorney visits (ERO eFile): Legal visitation scheduled through ERO eFile at ice.gov, first-come basis. 60-minute appointments, 7 days a week 9 AM-9 PM including holidays. No-contact visitation for Low/Medium-Low detainees: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday.
Tablets: Messaging available.
Bond: Cannot be posted at Farmville. Post at ICE ERO Richmond: 9200 Arboretum Parkway, Suite 140, Richmond, VA 23236 | (804) 330-8250 | Monday-Friday (no holidays) 9 AM-3 PM
Mail: Detainee's First and Last Name, A# - P.O. Box N, Farmville, VA 23901. Cash cannot be sent by mail. No electronic devices in packages.
The Farmville Detention Center is Virginia's largest ICE facility, with 732 beds, holding only adult men. As of early FY2026, it had an average daily population of 685, with 469 people (approximately 68%) having no prior criminal convictions. Its highest recorded average daily population was 718 in November 2025. The facility is located in Prince Edward County in south-central Virginia.
As of July 1, 2025, the Farmville Detention Center was sold to CoreCivic (the Nashville-based private prison company) for $67 million. CoreCivic now owns and operates the facility under ICE contract. A December compliance inspection found deficiencies in 6 of 27 standards, including: medical care (failure to provide proper diet for allergy patients; failure to report communicable disease diagnoses including active tuberculosis; failure to provide mental health evaluations within 72 hours of referral; some men referred for mental health treatment never received an evaluation; administering psychotropic medications without documented informed consent); self-harm and suicide prevention; recreation; visitation; the grievance system; and staff training. If a family member reports medical neglect or unsafe conditions, contact the Legal Aid Justice Center and DHS OIG immediately.
Riverside Regional Jail Authority - Prince George County (Short-Term, Near Richmond)
1111 River Road, Prince George, VA 23875
Contact ICE Washington Field Office: Washington.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov | (703) 285-6200
The Riverside Regional Jail Authority (RRJA) in Prince George County (south of Richmond) entered into an ICE agreement in May 2025. From January 2025 through early April 2026, 7,344 people were booked here under ICE-related designations. As of April 2026, it held approximately 74 ICE detainees on any given day. The jail functions as a temporary hold generally up to 72 hours, with detainees then transferred to Caroline, Farmville, or out of state.
Phone: (804) 733-2474. Bond: Post at ICE ERO Richmond (see above).
Southwest Regional Jail - Abingdon (Southwest Virginia)
ICE maintains an intergovernmental service agreement with Southwest Regional Jail in Abingdon (Washington County, far southwest Virginia). Contact ICE Washington Field Office at Washington.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov for detainee information. Bond posts at ICE ERO Richmond or other ICE ERO offices.
County Jails with 287(g) Agreements
Virginia has a large number of county jails that have signed 287(g) agreements with ICE, enabling local law enforcement to initiate immigration detainers. These jails may hold people briefly before transfer to Caroline, Farmville, or other facilities. The number of 287(g) agreements in Virginia expanded dramatically after January 2025. Use the ICE Detainee Locator (locator.ice.gov) to find which facility is holding a specific person.
Step 3: Get Legal Help
Virginia has a growing immigration legal community but resources remain thin relative to the enforcement surge. Contact organizations immediately on arrest - Farmville and Caroline are long-term facilities, but county jails transfer quickly.
Legal Aid Justice Center - Charlottesville (statewide)
lajc.org | (434) 977-0553 | Charlottesville - Virginia's primary legal advocacy organization serving low-income immigrants. Offices also in Richmond, Falls Church, and Petersburg. Immigration team provides direct representation and litigation, with particular focus on detained populations at Farmville and Caroline.
Virginia Poverty Law Center
vplc.org | (804) 782-9430 | Richmond - Advocacy and legal work for low-income Virginians including immigrants. Contact for referrals and Know Your Rights resources.
CLINIC (Catholic Legal Immigration Network) Virginia affiliates
cliniclegal.org - Multiple Virginia affiliates including Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Richmond, and others. Search cliniclegal.org by ZIP code.
Capital Area Immigrants' Rights (CAIR) Coalition - Washington DC / Northern Virginia
caircoalition.org | (202) 783-2847 | Washington DC - Provides direct legal representation to detained immigrants, with particular reach into Caroline Detention Facility and Northern Virginia county jails.
Virginia Justice Initiative - formerly TASSC
Contact through Legal Aid Justice Center - supports immigrants in the DC-Metro Virginia area.
ACLU of Virginia
acluva.org | (804) 644-8022 | Richmond - Civil rights litigation and advocacy. Contact for rights violations and systemic complaints, including conditions at Farmville and Caroline.
National Immigrant Justice Center
immigrantjustice.org - Free national legal representation network. Contact for Farmville and Caroline detainees.
EOIR Pro Bono Lists
Both the Caroline Detention Facility and Farmville Detention Center are required to post pro bono legal service lists in all housing units. Ask your family member to request these lists immediately. Both facilities serve the Richmond immigration court.
Immigration Advocates Network
immigrationadvocates.org - Searchable national directory by facility name.
Step 4: Bond
Bond for Virginia ICE detainees cannot be posted at the detention facilities. Bond posts at the ICE ERO office in Richmond or through a licensed bond agent.
Bond in person:
ICE ERO Richmond: 9200 Arboretum Parkway, Suite 140, Richmond, VA 23236 | (804) 330-8250 | Monday-Friday (except holidays) 9 AM-3 PM
ICE Washington Field Office: Washington.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov | (703) 285-6200
Payment: Money order, cashier's check, or certified check payable to 'Department of Homeland Security.' For amounts over $10,000, single cashier's check or certified check only.
A licensed immigration bond agent can post bond electronically for a fee - often easier than traveling to Richmond.
Bond funds:
National Immigrant Bond Fund: immigrantbondfund.org - national fund requiring family contribution.
Contact Legal Aid Justice Center (lajc.org | (434) 977-0553) for Virginia-specific bond assistance referrals.
Step 5: Communication
Caroline Detention Facility - Bowling Green
Phone (family calls/information): (804) 633-0043 | 8 AM-4 PM. Detainees cannot receive incoming calls. To leave an urgent message, call (804) 633-0043 with full name, A-Number, and your name and callback number.
Visiting: Saturdays and Sundays 1:30 PM-9:30 PM (family). Attorneys: daily 1:30 PM-9:30 PM. First 10 days: no visits allowed. Valid ID required. 60 minutes maximum. Public parking adjacent to facility.
Tablets: gettingout.com for non-confidential messaging.
Mail: [Name, A#], 11093 SW Lewis Memorial Drive, Bowling Green VA 22427.
Farmville Detention Center - Farmville
Phone (family calls/information): (434) 395-8114 | 8 AM-4 PM. Detainees cannot receive incoming calls. For urgent messages, call (434) 395-8114.
Attorney visits: Schedule through ERO eFile at ice.gov. 60-minute appointments 7 days 9 AM-9 PM. No-contact visits (Low/Medium-Low): Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday.
Visiting (family): Contact facility for current schedule. Valid government ID required. Minors must be accompanied by adult guardian (18+) and cannot be left unaccompanied.
Mail: [First and Last Name, A#], P.O. Box N, Farmville VA 23901. No cash. No electronics.
Step 6: Virginia Context and Your Rights
Virginia is a major ICE enforcement state - arrests increased 7x:
Virginia saw approximately 1,595 ICE arrests in all of 2024. Between January 2025 and early March 2026 - just over a year - there were nearly 11,000 arrests in the commonwealth. Virginia ranks 6th nationally in ICE arrests. The enforcement surge has been driven by increased 287(g) agreements between ICE and Virginia sheriffs' offices, allowing local law enforcement to check immigration status during arrests. Thirteen minors under the age of 6 were detained by ICE in Virginia during this period.
Most Virginia ICE detainees have no criminal record:
ICE's own data shows that approximately 70% of Virginia ICE detainees have no prior criminal convictions. At Caroline, 65% have 'no ICE threat level.' At Farmville, 68% have no criminal convictions. The most common prior conviction among those with any record was DUI, with 816 bookings. Despite the Trump administration's claims of targeting 'criminal aliens,' the data does not support this characterization for the Virginia facilities.
Farmville sold to CoreCivic - compliance problems documented:
The Farmville Detention Center was acquired by CoreCivic in July 2025 for $67 million. A December 2025 compliance inspection found the facility failed 6 of 27 standards, with the majority of failures in medical care. Specific failures included: not providing a proper diet to a man with peanut and red meat allergies; failing to report active tuberculosis diagnoses to ICE; failing to provide mental health evaluations within 72 hours; men referred for mental health treatment who never received an evaluation; administering psychotropic medications without documented informed consent. If a family member at Farmville is being denied medical care, contact the Legal Aid Justice Center at (434) 977-0553 and DHS Inspector General at 1-800-323-8603 immediately.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia - wrongful deportation documented at Farmville:
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man who had a US court order protecting him from deportation, was booked into the Farmville Detention Center in August 2025 and wrongfully deported to El Salvador. His case became a landmark legal and political dispute in 2025 and 2026, with the Supreme Court involved. If your family member has a legal protection, court order, or pending appeal, contact an attorney immediately. Do not let your family member sign any document without legal representation.
Do not sign anything without an attorney:
Contact the Legal Aid Justice Center at (434) 977-0553 before signing any Voluntary Departure document. Virginia has a documented history of people being pressured to sign documents waiving their rights.
Key rights every detainee has:
The right to speak with an attorney. Request the pro bono list. Contact Legal Aid Justice Center immediately.
The right to a bond hearing (unless subject to mandatory detention). Contact an attorney immediately.
The right to communicate with your home country's consulate (free calls required).
The right to adequate medical care. If denied, contact Legal Aid Justice Center and DHS OIG (1-800-323-8603).
The right to be free from physical and verbal abuse.
To report conditions or file a complaint:
Legal Aid Justice Center: lajc.org | (434) 977-0553
ACLU of Virginia: acluva.org | (804) 644-8022
DHS Inspector General: oig.dhs.gov | 1-800-323-8603
ICE Washington Field Office: Washington.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov | (703) 285-6200
Quick Reference - Virginia 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 Washington Field Office: Washington.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov | (703) 285-6200
Primary Virginia ICE detention facilities:
Caroline Detention Facility (Bowling Green, men/women): 11093 SW Lewis Memorial Drive | (804) 633-0043 | case: Washington.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov
Farmville Detention Center (Farmville, men only, CoreCivic): 508 Waterworks Road | (434) 395-8114 | case: Washington.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov
Riverside Regional Jail (Prince George County, short-term): (804) 733-2474
Post bond (NOT at facilities):
ICE ERO Richmond: 9200 Arboretum Pkwy Suite 140, Richmond VA 23236 | (804) 330-8250 | M-F 9 AM-3 PM
Legal help:
Legal Aid Justice Center: lajc.org | (434) 977-0553 (statewide - call immediately)
CAIR Coalition: caircoalition.org | (202) 783-2847 (Northern VA / Caroline area)
ACLU Virginia: acluva.org | (804) 644-8022
Virginia Poverty Law Center: vplc.org | (804) 782-9430
VOLATILE: Verify current capacity status at Caroline (over 336-bed capacity since Nov 2025; verify current) and Farmville (average 685-718 in late 2025-2026; CoreCivic took over July 2025; verify current operator). Verify current visiting schedules at both facilities. Verify current status of 287(g) agreements and any new county jail ICE agreements in Virginia. Abrego Garcia case may have changed legal landscape - verify with Legal Aid Justice Center.
Sources and verification: VPM News, 'Immigration Enforcement in Virginia Has Risen Sharply,' May 1, 2026 (nearly 11,000 ICE arrests Virginia Jan 2025-March 2026 vs 1,595 all 2024; Caroline 331 ADP 216 no ICE threat level FY26; Farmville 685 ADP 469 no prior convictions FY26; RRJA 7,344 bookings Jan 2025-April 2026; 287(g) agreements expanded; ICE Washington Field Office; Southwest Regional Jail Abingdon intergovernmental service agreement; TRAC Immigration analysis 70% nationwide no convictions); WRIC ABC 8News, 'Central Virginia ICE Facility Over Capacity,' April/December 2025 (two formal ICE detention centers Central Virginia; Caroline 336-bed max exceeded since November 2025 - 353 ADP Nov 28; Farmville 732 max 712-718 ADP November 2025; RRJA May 2025 agreement 74 ADP April 2026; 14,687 total bookings Caroline/Farmville/RRJA Jan 20-March 10 2026; Virginia 6th nationally ICE arrests; 13 minors under 6 detained; most common prior conviction DUI 816 bookings; less than 40 murder convictions under 280 sex crime; Kilmar Abrego Garcia booked Farmville August 2025 wrongfully deported); WMRA Public Radio, 'Three Quarters of Immigrants Detained in Farmville Had No Criminal Convictions,' July 3, 2025 (Farmville 700+ beds male only; Caroline men and women; CoreCivic purchased Farmville July 1 2025 $67 million; December compliance inspection failed 6 of 27 standards: medical care self-harm suicide prevention recreation visitation grievance system staff training; medical: peanut red meat allergy diet failure; TB not reported to ICE; mental health evaluation within 72 hours not provided; men never received mental health evaluation; psychotropic medication no documented informed consent; 75%+ Farmville 'no ICE threat level' no criminal convictions; 84% nationwide no convictions; WVTF CoreCivic 'three hot meals each day instead of cold breakfast');="Arial::a6rr 2025 ion grievance system staff training; medical: peanut red meat allergy diet failure; TB not reported to ICE; mental health evaluation within 72 hours not provided; men never received mental health evaluation; psychotropic med never rekore="4880"/>