The Johnson County Detention Center is a county jail that contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to house immigration detainees arrested in North Texas, including arrestees across Dallas-Fort Worth.
Johnson County Detention Center in Cleburne, Texas
The Johnson County Detention Center is a county jail that contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to house immigration detainees arrested in North Texas, including arrestees across Dallas-Fort Worth.
What happens to immigrants detained in Johnson County?
An immigration detainee in Johnson County is usually there because he or she has been placed in deportation proceedings and has been denied an immigration bond by an ICE deportation officer.
In most cases, the person will have an opportunity to fight his case before an immigration judge at the Dallas Immigration Court. As of early 2018, two judges have been assigned to handle deportation cases in Johnson County – Judge Deitrich Sims and Judge Xiomara Davis-Gumbs.
The person will remain detained in Johnson County until one of two things happens. First, the person is released on an immigration bond, and second, his removal case and all appeals are completed.
Frequently Asked Questions About ICE Holds & Detainers
Why is my loved on in ICE custody in Cleburne?
A person can be charged with removability for several reasons. It could be because he or she entered the U.S. illegally, overstayed a visa, committed fraud, or was convicted of a crime. Usually Immigration and Customs Enforcement seeks to detain without bond persons with at least some criminal history.
How can a person detained in Johnson County get an immigration bond?
At the outset, an ICE deportation officer will decide whether or not to allow the person’s release on an immigration bond. Most detainees are notified if they have a bond even before they arrive at Johnson County. If the person is not given a bond, it’s important to seek help from an immigration attorney experienced in removal defense.
The attorney can try to get a bond in one of two ways. The first is to seek review by a supervisory deportation officer with ICE. An officer stationed at another immigration jail, located in Alvarado, Texas, can review bond denials where extenuating circumstances are present, and where the person is statutorily eligible for a bond.
Second, the attorney can seek a bond redetermination by an immigration judge. The immigration court is located in Dallas, Texas. To obtain a bond hearing, you and your attorney will work together to present a bond application and evidence demonstrating why you are not a danger to society or a flight risk.
Note: not all persons detained in Johnson County are eligible for a bond. The immigration laws provide that certain persons, depending on their immigration and criminal histories, are subject to detention without bond.
Can I visit an immigration detainee at Johnson County Jail?
Yes. The Johnson County Detention Center is located at 1800 Ridgemar Drive, Cleburne, Texas. You can park at the visitor parking located at Building C3.
The day and time for visitation will depend on the security level assigned to the inmate by the jail. To find out, call the facility at 817-556-6000.
ICE Level Medium High & High Detainees
8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
ICE Level Low & Medium Low Detainees
8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
ICE Restricted Housing Unit Detainees
8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
You’ll need to bring an acceptable form of identification in order to visit your family member. Adult visitors should bring a valid, verifiable, government-issued ID card. Minors must be accompanied by an adult guardian, and cannot be left unaccompanied in the waiting room or visitation area.
