South Texas ICE Processing is a privately operated correctional facility in Pearsall, TX, managed by the contracted operator under contract with the contracting corrections agency. The day-to-day operations at this facility are run by the contracted operator, but the rules governing who is held here, what programs are available, and how release works are set by the contracting corrections agency - not by the private operator. If you have questions about programs, release dates, or official policies, contact the contracting corrections agency directly, not the contracted operator's corporate office. Information on this page was last verified August 2026.
South Texas ICE Processing operates under contract with the contracting corrections agency. The policies governing your family member's incarceration - programs, release, and official rules - are set by the contracting corrections agency. For questions beyond what this page covers, contact the contracting corrections agency directly.
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Start with the the contracting corrections agency inmate or detainee search - this is the authoritative source for current location and custody status. Private facility records are maintained by the contracting government agency, not by the contracted operator. You can also use InmateAid's inmate locator to search by name across Texas facilities.
If your family member was recently transferred to South Texas ICE Processing, allow 24 to 48 hours for records to update before assuming a search result is wrong. You can also pull their arrest record and conviction details to confirm case status. For direct questions, call South Texas ICE Processing at 830-334-2939.
This is the question most families do not know to ask - and it matters.
the contracted operator manages the day-to-day operations at South Texas ICE Processing: staffing, facility maintenance, food service, and daily scheduling. But the contracted operator does not set the policies that govern your family member's incarceration. Those policies come from the contracting corrections agency, the government agency that contracted the contracted operator to run this facility.
What this means practically: if you have a question about programs, parole eligibility, release dates, sentence credits, or official inmate rights, the answer comes from the contracting corrections agency - not from the contracted operator's main phone line or website. If the contracted operator staff cannot answer a policy question, that is why. Escalate to the contracting corrections agency directly for anything involving official policy or your family member's legal status.
For operational questions - current visiting hours, phone provider, commissary procedures - the South Texas ICE Processing facility staff at 830-334-2939 are the right contact.
Your family member calls you - you cannot call them. All calls are recorded and monitored except verified attorney calls.
Calls from South Texas ICE Processing go through the facility's contracted phone provider. Visit InmateAid's prison calls page to find the current provider and get your account set up before the first call.
Private facilities use the same major phone providers as government-run facilities - GTL, ICSolutions, Securus, or others depending on the contract. The setup process is the same regardless of operator. Do not let it be a barrier.
Visitation at South Texas ICE Processing follows the rules set by the contracting corrections agency and implemented by the contracted operator staff. Most private facilities require advance visitor registration - contact South Texas ICE Processing at 830-334-2939 to confirm the registration process and current visiting hours before making the trip.
General rules that apply at most private correctional facilities: dress conservatively, avoid colors or patterns that resemble inmate clothing, leave your phone and valuables in your car or facility lockers, bring valid government-issued ID. Children may require specific authorization. Call 830-334-2939 before every visit to confirm current hours - private facilities do not always maintain consistent schedules and policies can change without public notice. Read InmateAid's visitation guide for a full pre-visit checklist.
Visitation Information - South Texas ICE Processing Center
Facility Contacts
ICE Supervisory Deportation Officer: 210-231-4505 Court room officer for legal scheduling: 830-334-2939 Virtual attorney visit email: STIPCVAV@GEOGroup.com Legal mail email: 213LOP@geogroup.com
Visiting Hours
Visitation runs seven days a week. Times are assigned by detainee classification:
6 a.m. to 7 a.m.: FF 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.: Females Level I and II 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Females Level III (R) 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Males Level I and II 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Males High Level II and III 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.: SMU-A 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Males Level III 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Males Level I and II (R)
Start and end times can change based on facility operations.
Per ICE Pandemic Response Requirements, social visitation only happens when the facility is in green status. You can call to check the current status, and a flyer outside the facility shows the weekly status.
Visit Limits
Each detainee gets one hour for visitation. The Facility Administrator may authorize more time for family traveling significant distances, depending on staff availability and how many people are visiting. A maximum of two adults and two children may visit at one time. The rule is applied flexibly and exceptions can be made.
Plan to arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled visit so you can clear security.
Who Can Visit
Adult visitors must show a valid, verifiable government-issued photo ID. Minors must be accompanied by an adult guardian who is 18 or older. Children cannot be left alone in the waiting room, visiting room, or any other area.
Visiting Rules
All friend and family visits are non-contact.
No firearms or weapons of any kind. No electronic devices (cell phones, pagers, radios) in secure areas. Visitors cannot pass anything to detainees or carry items into the visitation area.
Every visitor is subject to a pat-down, bag inspection, and metal scan. Refusing a search means you will not be admitted. If you appear intoxicated, you will be turned away.
Attorney Visits
In-person attorney visits run 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. All legal visitation follows PBNDS 2011 Section 5.7 (V.J).
Legal visits can be scheduled in advance through ERO eFile on a first-come basis, in 30-minute blocks. Back-to-back appointments are permitted but cannot exceed 60 minutes. Walk-in visits are still permitted, but scheduled visits get priority.
A list of pro bono legal organizations is posted in every housing unit and updated quarterly. Detainees are responsible for contacting these organizations to schedule appointments.
Virtual Attorney Visits
Attorneys must request video teleconference (VTC) meetings or confidential legal phone calls through ERO eFile. Confirmation comes back through ERO eFile.
VTC sessions run Monday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Appointments can be booked up to 2 weeks ahead but no later than 24 hours before the slot, on a first-come basis. There is no cap on how many VTC appointments an attorney can request, but no attorney is permitted more than 2 hours of appointments in a single day. Scheduling more than 2 hours may result in the additional visits being canceled.
For a quick phone call, the facility recommends having the detainee call the attorney instead of reserving a 30-minute slot.
The ERO eFile request must include: the attorney's full name and contact info, the detainee's name and A-number (or name, date of birth, and country of birth), and the Zoom meeting ID and passcode in the Virtual Meeting Information section. This is required before you can select a time slot.
Required attachments: a scan of the attorney's government ID, proof of legal status (bar card, attorney license, paralegal license, or similar), and the eFiled G-28 unless this is a pre-representational visit. If a legal assistant is joining alone, attach a letter of authorization on firm letterhead and a scan of the assistant's ID.
For requests under PBNDS 2011 Section 5.7 (V.N.1) and Section 4.3 (V.FF), upload the written request in the Attorney Authorization Letter field and the Professional Licensure or Curriculum Vitae in the Medical/Mental Health Evaluators field.
Only legal representatives, legal assistants, and interpreters are allowed on these calls. No family, no friends. The attorney can use outside interpretation services during the session. Calls are confidential; an officer stays within sight but out of earshot and will knock 5 minutes before the cutoff.
The facility can cancel or reschedule appointments to manage safety risks or to make sure other attorneys and detainees get fair access. If no slots are available or you have an exigent circumstance, contact STIPCVAV@GEOGroup.com or call 830-334-2939.
Legal Mail by Email
Attorneys can send legal correspondence to 213LOP@geogroup.com. Mark "Legal Mail" clearly in the subject line and attach the specific documents to be delivered.
Include a cover sheet with the detainee's full name, A-number, sender's return fax number, total page count, and a "Legal Mail" notation.
Documents are inspected for contraband but not read, then delivered to the detainee. Processing happens during business hours Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding holidays.
Consular Visits
Consular officials can meet with their nationals at any time. Call the ICE Supervisory Deportation Officer at 210-231-4505 to make arrangements when possible, and bring credentials.
Clergy Visits
Clergy can visit at any time but must arrange the visit ahead of time through the Chaplain's Office.
The commissary or trust account gives your family member access to hygiene items, snacks, phone time, and postage. Keeping money on the books is one of the most consistent practical contributions you can make.
Steps to send money to South Texas ICE Processing:
1. Go to InmateAid's send money page to find the approved deposit method for this facility
2. Have your family member's full legal name and their ID number - this may be a BOP Register Number, state DOC number, or facility booking number depending on the contract type
3. Choose online deposit, phone deposit, or facility kiosk
4. Use the name and number exactly as they appear in the facility system - errors delay or reject deposits
Mail is a consistent connection across what may be a long sentence.
South Texas ICE Processing accepts incoming mail addressed to your family member at 566 Veterans Dr. Include their full legal name and ID number on every piece of mail. Mail rules at private facilities follow the contracting authority's standards - which means they are typically as strict as government-run facilities of the same type. Plain white paper only, no staples, no glitter, no stickers, no colored ink. Photos should be standard print size with nothing written on the back. When in doubt, keep it simple - rejected mail may not come with notification.
InmateAid's send mail service prints and mails on approved stock from your phone or computer. Formatting rejection is not a risk.
Books and magazines must be ordered new, directly from the publisher or an online retailer. Order through Amazon or directly from the publisher. Anything shipped from a personal address will be rejected.
Programs at private facilities are determined by the contract with the contracting corrections agency, not by the contracted operator. The availability of education programs, vocational training, substance abuse treatment, and other programming depends entirely on what the contracting corrections agency has contracted and funded.
Contact South Texas ICE Processing at 830-334-2939 or the contracting corrections agency directly to confirm what programs are available and how enrollment works.
Release from South Texas ICE Processing is governed by the contracting corrections agency, not by the contracted operator. The operator has no authority over release dates, sentence credits, or early release decisions.
Contact the contracting corrections agency directly for information about release dates, sentence credits, and reentry planning. the contracted operator staff at the facility can answer operational questions but cannot address release timing - that authority rests with the contracting corrections agency.
People held at private facilities retain the same constitutional rights as those in government-run facilities. Private operation does not diminish those rights - it just adds a layer to navigating them.
If your family member experiences a problem at South Texas ICE Processing - mistreatment, inadequate medical care, safety concerns - the complaint path runs through the contracting corrections agency, not just the contracted operator. the contracted operator has an internal grievance process your family member can initiate, but unresolved complaints should be escalated to the contracting corrections agency's oversight office, the relevant state Attorney General's office, or in serious cases to the federal Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.
Document everything. Private facilities have faced civil rights litigation and oversight investigations - your documentation matters if a complaint escalates. InmateAid's what to expect guide covers inmate rights and the grievance process in general terms. For facility-specific concerns, contact the contracting corrections agency directly.
Whether the facility is private or government-run, the experience of having a family member incarcerated in Texas involves navigating the same systems - phone providers, visitation rules, inmate search, and what happens at release. InmateAid's Texas prison resources hub covers all of it in one place, written for families navigating the Texas system.
Have a specific question from someone who has been through it? Browse questions and answers at InmateAid Texas Q&A.
Frequently Asked Questions about South Texas ICE Processing
Who runs South Texas ICE Processing and who sets the rules?
South Texas ICE Processing is operated by the contracted operator under contract with the contracting corrections agency. the contracted operator manages daily operations. the contracting corrections agency sets the policies governing incarceration - programs, release, and official rights. For policy questions, contact the contracting corrections agency directly.
How do I find out if my family member is at South Texas ICE Processing?
Search the the contracting corrections agency inmate locator online or call South Texas ICE Processing at 830-334-2939. You can also use InmateAid's inmate locator to search across Texas facilities by name. Records may take 24 to 48 hours to update after a transfer.
What ID number do I need for phone accounts and money deposits?
The ID number depends on the contract type. For federal contracts, use the BOP Register Number. For state contracts, use the state DOC number. For local contracts, use the facility booking number. Call South Texas ICE Processing at 830-334-2939 to confirm which number the facility uses for commissary and phone accounts.
Can the contracted operator deny my visit or change visitation rules?
Visitation rules are set by the contracting corrections agency and implemented by the contracted operator staff. the contracted operator cannot arbitrarily deny visitation outside the rules set by the contracting corrections agency. If you believe a visit denial was improper, contact the contracting corrections agency to report it. Always call 830-334-2939 before making the trip to confirm current hours and any registration requirements.
What should I do if I have a serious concern about conditions at South Texas ICE Processing?
Contact South Texas ICE Processing at 830-334-2939 first. If the response is unsatisfactory, escalate to the contracting corrections agency. For serious concerns involving safety, medical neglect, or rights violations, the relevant state Attorney General's office and the DOJ Civil Rights Division are additional contacts. Document all communications in writing.
Private prisons add complexity to an already complex situation. The company name on the door is not who is making the decisions that matter for your family member - the government agency holding the contract is. Understanding that distinction is the first step to getting the right answers from the right people.
InmateAid was built to help families cut through exactly this kind of complexity. Use us.