Immigration Jails in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex

When a family member is arrested by ICE in Dallas-Fort Worth, and even all of North Texas, there is a strong chance that he or she will end up being detained in an immigration jail. Below is some additional information on immigration detention facilities in the area.

Immigration Jails in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex

When a family member is arrested by ICE in Dallas-Fort Worth, and even all of North Texas, there is a strong chance that he or she will end up being detained in an immigration jail. Below is some additional information on immigration detention facilities in the area.

What is immigration jail?

An immigration jail, or immigration detention center, is on where ICE or immigration inmates are housed pending their deportation proceedings. Some, like the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, are owned and operated by the Department of Homeland Security. Others are owned and operated by other entities, but contract with ICE to hold immigration detainees.

 

The primary purpose of most immigration detention facilities is to hold non-citizens while they are awaiting removal proceedings.  That is, they are detained during the immigration court process. A minority of detainees immigration jails have already been issued deportation orders and are awaiting physical removal from the United States.

What are the main immigration jails in Dallas-Fort Worth?

Dallas Field Office on 8101 N. Stemmons:

This is only a temporary holding area for immigration detainees. Immigrants facing removal are first brought here for “processing.” This is where ICE officials make a determination of whether to place the person in removal proceedings and whether to authorize his or her release on an immigration bond.

Johnson County Jail (overview)

This is a county jail located in Cleburne, Texas. While the jail is owned by Johnson County, ICE effectively rents space at this jail for immigration detainees who are waiting to see an immigration judge.

Prairieland Detention Center (overview) –

The Prairieland Detention Center, sometimes called PDC, is located in Alvarado, Texas. It is a relatively new complex housing only immigration detainees, males and females. While person are detained here, they appear before immigration judges located in Dallas, Texas via televideo.

How Can A Person Get Out of Immigration Jail?

There are multiple ways to get released from immigration jails.  

 

The first is by getting a bond from an ICE deportation officer. While the initial bond decision is made by a deportation officer at 8101 N. Stemmons, that decision can be modified by an ICE officer located on-site at the immigration jail.  So, for example, if a person is detained at the Prairieland Detention Center, and wishes for an ICE officer to review the bond amount (or bond denial), he or she can speak to an ICE officer located at PDC. It is strongly recommended that the detainee obtain the assistance of a qualified immigration attorney when requesting any review of a bond decision.  

 

Attorneys seeking review of a bond decision for a detainee at Prairieland Detention  

 

Barring that, you can try for an immigration bond by asking an immigration judge located at the Dallas Immigration Court.